| 释义 |
optimum, n. (a.) orig. Biol.|ˈɒptɪməm|
[L. optimum the best, that which is best, neuter of optimus best.]
A. n. That degree or amount of heat, light, food, moisture, etc. most favourable for growth, reproduction, or other vital process. Hence, the best, or the most favourable or advantageous, condition, situation, etc.
1879tr. Semper's Anim. Life 43 This may be briefly designated as the optimum of food. 1882Vines tr. Sachs' Bot. 747 An increase of the amount of carbonic acid present in the air, up to a certain limit (optimum), increases the evolution of oxygen. 1885G. L. Goodale Phys. Bot. (1892) 210 For the most rapid circulation of protoplasm there must be a definite amount of water,—the optimum. 1955Schultz & Cleaves Geol. in Engin. xvii. 416 It can be seen from the shape of the curves near optimum that moisture content is extremely critical in the compaction of soils. 1970O. Dopping Computers & Data Processing xxii. 340 In many planning programs..time limitations make it impossible to reach the optimum and provide proof that this has been reached. 1971Marriage, Divorce & Church iii. 50 In principle the State need not encourage more children when population growth appears to be reaching, or to have passed, an optimum.
B. adj. (attrib. use of n.) Best or most favourable: = optimal.
1885Vines Lect. Physiol. Plants 276 The minimum or zero point is the point at which the performance is just possible; the optimum point, at which it is carried on with the greatest activity. 1896Allbutt's Syst. Med. I. 513 Experience alone can tell us the optimum temperature for a given kind of micro-organism. 1926Rideal & Taylor Catalysis (ed. 2) v. 113 Most of the statements concerning promoter action by added substances have no information which would indicate what the optimum concentration of promoter is for the given reaction. 1929S. Leslie Anglo-Catholic iii. 34 How shall we strike the so-called optimum density, which is best for both the health and the soul of London, and keep the population there? 1930Economist 1 Nov. (Russ. Suppl.) 13/1 The question of the optimum size of such a farm is not quite settled. 1935Planning 18 June 8 It is a problem of maintaining the numbers and balance of population in such a manner as to enable optimum social and economic activity. 1949E. W. Kimbark Electr. Transmission xiii. 279 Another matching device is used at the sending end of the line..in order to obtain optimum power output from the transmitter. ‘Optimum’ signifies a compromise between maximum output and other considerations. 1950G. B. Shaw Farfetched Fables Pref. 98 While the time lag lasts the future remains threatening. The problem of optimum wealth distribution..will not yield to the well-intentioned Utopian amateurs. 1954H. M. Corley Successful Commerc. Chem. Devel. ix. 152 The question of the optimum production rate for a new plant is not easy to answer. 1967E. Duckworth in Wills & Yearsley Handbk. Managem. Technol. 110 When the optimum order quantities have been decided, problems may occur in scheduling these through factories in the optimum manner. 1975New Yorker 21 Apr. 92/2 These drivers are deviant only in that they depart from ideal or optimum behavior. |