ɪksˈtri:m adj. & n. --adj. 1 reaching a
high or
the highest
degree;
exceedingly great or
intense (extreme
old age; in extreme danger). 2 a
severe,
stringent;
lacking restraint or
moderation (take extreme measures; an extreme reaction). b (of a
person,
opinion, etc.)
going to great lengths; advocating
immoderate measures. 3
outermost;
furthest from the
centre; situated at
either end (the extreme edge). 4 Polit. on the
far left or
right of a party. 5
utmost; last. --n. 1 (often in pl.)
one or
other of
two things as
remote or as
different as
possible. 2 a
thing at either end of
anything. 3 the highest degree of anything. 4
Math. the
first or the last
term of a
ratio or
series. 5
Logic the
subject or
predicate in a
proposition; the
major or the
minor term in a
syllogism. øextreme
unction the last rites in the
Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. go to extremes
take an extreme
course of
action. go to the other extreme take a diametrically
opposite course of action. in the extreme to an extreme degree. øøextremely adv. extremeness n. [ME f. OF f. L extremus superl. of exterus outward]