Definition of: maximum

(mak′sə·məm) noun plural ·ma (-mə)
1. The greatest quantity, amount, degree, or magnitude that can be assigned.
2. Math. a A value of a varying quantity that is greater than any neighboring value. b The highest possible of all the values which a variable or a function can express; the point at which a varying quantity ceases to increase and begins to decrease.
3. Astron. The moment of greatest brightness in a variable star, or its magnitude at such time.
—adjective
1. As large or great as possible.
2. Pertaining to a maximum: maximum weight. [<L maximus, superl. of magnus great]