lim·it (l m t)n.1. The point, edge, or line beyond which something cannot or may not proceed. 2. limits The boundary surrounding a specific area; bounds: within the city limits. 3. A confining or restricting object, agent, or influence. 4. The greatest or least amount, number, or extent allowed or possible: a withdrawal limit of $200; no minimum age limit. 5. Games The largest amount which may be bet at one time in games of chance. 6. Abbr. lim Mathematics A number or point L that is approached by a function f(x) as x approaches a if, for every positive number  , there exists a number  such that  f(x)-L < if 0 < x-a < . Also called limit point, point of accumulation. 7. Informal One that approaches or exceeds certain limits, as of credibility, forbearance, or acceptability: He is the limit of irresponsibility. tr.v. lim·it·ed, lim·it·ing, lim·its 1. To confine or restrict within a boundary or bounds. 2. To fix definitely; to specify.
[Middle English limite, from Old French, border, from Latin l mes, lmit-, border, limit.]
limit·a·ble adj. Synonyms: limit, restrict, confine, circumscribe
These verbs mean to establish or keep within specified bounds. Limit refers principally to the establishment of a maximum beyond which a person or thing cannot or may not go: The Constitution limits the President's term of office to four years.
To restrict is to keep within prescribed limits, as of choice or action: The sale of alcoholic beverages is restricted to those over 21.
Confine suggests imprisonment, restraint, or impediment: The children were confined to the nursery.
Circumscribe connotes an encircling or surrounding line that confines, especially narrowly: "A man . . . should not circumscribe his activity by any inflexible fence of rigid rules" John Stuart Blackie. |
limit Noun 1. (sometimes pl) the ultimate extent or amount of something: each soloist was stretched to his or her limit by the demands of the vocal writing 2. (often pl) the boundary of a specific area: beyond the city limits 3. the largest quantity or amount allowed 4. the limit Informal a person or thing that is intolerably exasperating Verb [-iting, -ited] to restrict [Latin limes boundary] limitable adj
limit (lmt) A number or point for which, from a given set of numbers or points, one can choose an arbitrarily close number or point. For example, for the set of all real numbers greater than zero and less than one, the numbers one and zero are limit points, since one can pick a number from the set arbitrarily close to one or zero (even though one and zero are not themselves in the set). Limits form the basis for calculus, where a number L is defined to be the limit approached by a function f(x) as x approaches a if, for every positive number , there exists a number such that f(x)-L < if 0 < x-a < . |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | limit - the greatest possible degree of something; "what he did was beyond the bounds of acceptable behavior"; "to the limit of his ability"extent - the distance or area or volume over which something extends; "the vast extent of the desert"; "an orchard of considerable extent" knife-edge - a narrow boundary; "he lived on a knife-edge between genius and insanity" absoluteness, starkness, utterness - the quality of being complete or utter or extreme; "the starkness of his contrast between justice and fairness was open to many objections" verge, brink - the limit beyond which something happens or changes; "on the verge of tears"; "on the brink of bankruptcy" | | 2. | limit - final or latest limiting pointend, ending - the point in time at which something ends; "the end of the year"; "the ending of warranty period" | | 3. | limit - as far as something can goextremity - the outermost or farthest region or point maximum - the point on a curve where the tangent changes from positive on the left to negative on the right minimum - the point on a curve where the tangent changes from negative on the left to positive on the right reach, range - the limits within which something can be effective; "range of motion"; "he was beyond the reach of their fire" | | 4. |  limit - the boundary of a specific areaedge - the outside limit of an object or area or surface; a place farthest away from the center of something; "the edge of the leaf is wavy"; "she sat on the edge of the bed"; "the water's edge" upper limit - the limit on the upper (or northernmost) side of something lower limit - the limit on the lower (or southernmost) side of something | | 5. | limit - the mathematical value toward which a function goes as the independent variable approaches infinity | | 6. | limit - the greatest amount of something that is possible or allowed; "there are limits on the amount you can bet"; "it is growing rapidly with no limitation in sight"peak, extremum - the most extreme possible amount or value; "voltage peak" cutoff - a designated limit beyond which something cannot function or must be terminated | | Verb | 1. |  limit - place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your friends"tighten, reduce - narrow or limit; "reduce the influx of foreigners" tie - limit or restrict to; "I am tied to UNIX"; "These big jets are tied to large airports" gate - restrict (school boys') movement to the dormitory or campus as a means of punishment draw a line, draw the line - reasonably object (to) or set a limit (on); "I draw the line when it comes to lending money to friends!" hamper, cramp, halter, strangle - prevent the progress or free movement of; "He was hampered in his efforts by the bad weather"; "the imperialist nation wanted to strangle the free trade between the two small countries" clamp down, crack down - repress or suppress (something regarded as undesirable); "The police clamped down on illegal drugs" inhibit - limit the range or extent of; "Contact between the young was inhibited by strict social customs" curb, hold in, control, moderate, contain, check, hold - lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits; "moderate your alcohol intake"; "hold your tongue"; "hold your temper"; "control your anger" | | 2. | limit - restrict or confine, "I limit you to two visits to the pub a day"hold down - restrain; "please hold down the noise so that the neighbors can sleep" cap - restrict the number or amount of; "We had to cap the number of people we can accept into our club" content - satisfy in a limited way; "He contented himself with one glass of beer per day" ration - restrict the consumption of a relatively scarce commodity, as during war; "Bread was rationed during the siege of the city" | | 3. | limit - decide upon or fix definitely; "fix the variables"; "specify the parameters"choose, pick out, select, take - pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives; "Take any one of these cards"; "Choose a good husband for your daughter"; "She selected a pair of shoes from among the dozen the salesgirl had shown her" name - mention and identify by name; "name your accomplices!" reset - set anew; "They re-set the date on the clock" define - give a definition for the meaning of a word; "Define `sadness'" |
limit noun 1. end, bound, ultimate, deadline, utmost, breaking point, termination, extremity, greatest extent, the bitter end, end point, cutoff point, furthest bound noun 2. boundary, end, edge, border, extent, pale, confines, frontier, precinct, perimeter, periphery verb 4. restrict, control, check, fix, bound, confine, specify, curb, restrain, ration, hinder, circumscribe, hem in, demarcate, delimit, put a brake on, keep within limits, straiten >> the limit ( Informal) the end, it ( informal) enough, the last straw, the straw that broke the camel's back  Translations
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