MAXIMISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does maximise mean? 

• MAXIMISE (verb)
  The verb MAXIMISE has 2 senses:

1. make the most of

2. make as big or large as possible

  Familiarity information: MAXIMISE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MAXIMISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they maximise    ... he / she / it maximises   
Past simple: maximised   
Past participle: maximised   
-ing form: maximising   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make the most of

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

maximise; maximize

Context example:

He maximized his role

Hypernyms (to "maximise" is one way to...):

exploit; tap (draw from; make good use of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

maximum (the greatest possible degree)

maximum (the largest possible quantity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make as big or large as possible

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

maximise; maximize

Context example:

Maximize your profits!

Hypernyms (to "maximise" is one way to...):

increase (make bigger or more)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

minimise (make small or insignificant)

Derivation:

maximisation (the act of raising to the highest possible point or condition or position)

maximum (the greatest possible degree)

maximum (the largest possible quantity)

 Context examples 

These excitations typically only travel about 10 nanometres in plastic (or polymeric) semiconductors, so researchers need to build tiny structures patterned at the nanoscale to maximise the harvest.

(Plastic crystals hold key to record-breaking energy transport, Universities of Cambridge)

In aged mothers, the placenta of female fetuses showed beneficial changes in structure and function that would maximise the support of fetal growth.

(Placenta changes could mean male offspring of older mums more likely to develop heart problems in later life, University of Cambridge)

Using the jumping genes already present in plants to generate new characteristics would be a significant step forward from traditional breeding techniques, making it possible to generate new traits in crops that have traditionally been bred to produce uniform shapes, colours and sizes to make harvesting more efficient and maximise yield.

(Harnessing tomato jumping genes could help speed-breed drought-resistant crops, University of Cambridge)