minimum

adj.

1. 最低的；最小的；最低限度的
   the smallest that is possible or allowed; extremely small
   1. a minimum charge/price
      最低收费 / 价格
   2. the minimum age for retirement
      退休的最低年龄
   3. The work was done with the minimum amount of effort.
      做这项工作没费什么劲。

noun

1. 最小值；最少量；最低限度
   the smallest or lowest amount that is possible, required or recorded
   1. costs should be kept to a minimum .
      成本应保持在最低限度。
   2. The class needs a minimum of six students to continue.
      这个班最少需要六名学生才可以继续办下去。
   3. As an absolute minimum , you should spend two hours in the evening studying.
      你每天晚上应花两个小时学习，这绝对是最低要求。
   4. Temperatures will fall to a minimum of 10 degrees.
      气温会降到最低点10度。
2. 极小量
   an extremely small amount
   1. He passed the exams with the minimum of effort.
      他没费什么劲就通过了考试。

1. ADJ 最小的;最低限度的
   You use minimum to describe an amount which is the smallest that is possible, allowed, or required.
   1. He was only five feet nine, the minimum height for a policeman.
      他只有5英尺9英寸高，刚刚达到当警察的最低身高要求。
   2. ...a rise in the minimum wage.
      最低工资的提高
   3. Minimum is also a noun.
      
   4. This will take a minimum of one hour...
      这至少要花去一个小时。
   5. Four foot should be seen as an absolute minimum.
      绝对不能比4英尺再少了。
2. ADJ (数量)极少的
   You use minimum to state how small an amount is.
   1. The basic needs of life are available with minimum effort...
      稍加努力就能满足生活的基本需求。
   2. Neil and Chris try to spend the minimum amount of time on the garden.
      尼尔与克里斯想尽可能少花时间打理花园。
   3. Minimum is also a noun.
      
   4. With a minimum of fuss, she produced the grandson he had so desperately wished for.
      没经过多少忙乱，她就生了一个他做梦都想要的孙子。
3. ADV 最低;至少
   If you say that something is a particular amount minimum, you mean that this is the smallest amount it should be or could possibly be, although a larger amount is acceptable or very possible.
   1. You're talking over a thousand pounds minimum for one course.
      你说的可是一门课程收费至少1,000英镑。
4. PHRASE 至少;最小
   You use at a minimum, or at the minimum, when you want to indicate that something is the very least which could or should happen.
   1. This would take three months at a minimum...
      这至少要3个月。
   2. At the minimum, they must be guaranteed against any form of further attack.
      至少要保证他们不再受到任何形式的攻击。
5. PHRASE 尽可能少的数量;最低限度
   If you say that someone keeps something to a minimum, or to the minimum, you mean that they keep the amount of it as small as possible.
   1. Office machinery is kept to a minimum...
      办公室的机器数量维持在最低限度。
   2. She has now cut her teaching hours to the minimum.
      她现在已经把她的教学时间减至最低限度。

1. About 12 inches wide is the absolute minimum you should consider
   12英寸左右的宽度绝对是你应考虑的最低值。
2. In some cases there is a minimum age limit.
   有些情况下有最低年龄限制。
3. The army would try to hold the western desert with a bare minimum of forces
   军队会用尽可能少的兵力扼守西部的沙漠。
4. A minimum 28,800 bps modem is probably the slowest you'll want to put up with.
   传输速度为28,800比特/秒的调制解调器很可能是你愿意忍受的最低速度的解调器。
5. Many of Britain's beaches fail to meet minimum standards of cleanliness.
   英国许多海滩连最起码的卫生标准都达不倒。
6. Try to keep any conflict between you and your ex-partner to a minimum
   尽量将自己与前配偶之间的摩擦减到最小。
7. The customer has to deposit a minimum of £ 100 monthly.
   顾客必须每月至少存100英镑。
8. These people deserve to make more than the minimum wage
   这些人应该得到比最低工资更高的报酬。
9. Minimum pensions and wages are to be indexed to inflation.
   最低养老金和最低工资要与通货膨胀挂钩。
10. Keep costs to a minimum.
    将花费降到最低。
11. The Companies Act lays down a set of minimum requirements
    《公司法》规定了一系列最低标准。
12. The weather was at its worst; bitterly cold, with leaden skies that gave minimum visibility.
    天气极其恶劣。寒风凛冽，天色晦暗，能见度极低。
13. It was achieved with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency.
    事情事半功倍地完成了。
14. The basic needs of life are available with minimum effort
    稍加努力就能满足生活的基本需求。
15. Neil and Chris try to spend the minimum amount of time on the garden.
    尼尔与克里斯想尽可能少花时间打理花园。
16. You're talking over a thousand pounds minimum for one course.
    你说的可是一门课程收费至少1,000英镑。
17. This would take three months at a minimum
    这至少要3个月。
18. At the minimum, they must be guaranteed against any form of further attack.
    至少要保证他们不再受到任何形式的攻击。
19. Office machinery is kept to a minimum
    办公室的机器数量维持在最低限度。
20. She has now cut her teaching hours to the minimum.
    她现在已经把她的教学时间减至最低限度。
21. It will shortly be put up for sale under the terms already communicated to you, which, to recapitulate, call for a very minimum of publicity.
    不久它就可以上市，按照我们与你商定的条款进行销售，重申一遍，这些条款尽量不要对外公开。
22. You can pay it off or make a minimum repayment.
    你可以一次付清或先付最低分期偿付款。
23. Graduate status is the minimum requirement for entry to the teaching profession
    研究生学历是从事教学工作的最低要求。
24. A second-class honours degree is the minimum requirement.
    至少须获得二级优等荣誉学位。
25. He reduced his needs to the minimum by simplifying his life.
    他过上了一种简单的生活，将自己的需求降到最低限度。
26. Cook for a minimum of 2 hours, or until the meat is tender.
    至少煮两个小时，或一直煮到肉变烂为止。
27. This may end efforts to set a minimum wage well above the poverty line.
    这可能会使将最低工资定得远高于贫困线的努力告吹。

noun

1. the point on a curve where the tangent changes from negative on the left to positive on the right

2. the smallest possible quantity

   Synonym:    lower limit

adj

1. the least possible
   1. needed to enforce minimal standards
   2. her grades were minimal
   3. minimum wage
   4. a minimal charge for the service

   Synonym:    minimal