minimum

Everyday

1. The smallest amount, number or level possible or allowed. tree →
2. (adjective) Being the smallest possible or allowed: "the minimum age". tree →

In the lessons

In maths: the minimum is the lowest value in a set; "at least" means the minimum. In safety: minimum age, minimum height for a ride. Phrases: at a minimum, keep to a minimum, bare minimum, minimum wage.

Examples

• The minimum temperature last night was 2 °C. tree →
• You must be a minimum of 120 cm tall for this ride. tree →
• Keep noise to a minimum in the library. tree →
• Find the minimum value in the list: 7, 3, 9, 5. It is 3. tree →
• He did the bare minimum of homework. tree →
• The minimum number of players is four. tree →

Note

Plural: minimums (everyday) or minima (science). Short form: min. Opposite: maximum. Maths: "a minimum of 5" means 5 or more (≥ 5). In statistics, range = maximum − minimum.