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Maxim vs Maximum - What's the difference?

maxim | maximum |

As nouns the difference between maxim and maximum

is that maxim is a self-evident axiom or premise; a pithy expression of a general principle or rule while maximum is the highest limit.

As a proper noun Maxim

is the Maxim gun, a British machine gun of various calibres used by the British army from 1889 until World War I.

As an adjective maximum is

to the highest degree.

maxim

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A self-evident axiom or premise; a pithy expression of a general principle or rule.
  • A precept; a succinct statement or observation of a rule of conduct or moral teaching.
  • * 1776 , , Wealth of Nations , page 768:
  • In every age and country of the world men must have attended to the characters, designs, and actions of one another, and many reputable rules and maxims for the conduct of human life, must have been laid down and approved of by common consent.

    Synonyms

    * aphorism, cliche enthymeme, proverb, saying * See also

    See also

    * adage * aphorism * apophthegm ----

    maximum

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • The highest limit.
  • * P. Colquhoun
  • Good legislation is the art of conducting a nation to the maximum of happiness, and the minimum of misery.
  • (mathematics) The greatest value of a set or other mathematical structure, especially the global maximum or a local maximum of a function.
  • (analysis) An upper bound of a set which is also an element of that set.
  • (statistics) The largest value of a batch or sample or the upper bound of a probability distribution.
  • (colloquial, snooker) A 147 break; the highest possible break.
  • (colloquial, darts) A score of with three darts.
  • (colloquial, cricket) A scoring shot for 6 runs.
  • Usage notes

    * (term) is the more common plural, especially for the technical senses.

    Hypernyms

    * (statistics) measure of location

    Synonyms

    * max

    Antonyms

    * minimum

    Adjective

    (-)
  • To the highest degree.
  • Use the proper dose for the maximum effect.

    Derived terms

    * antimaximum * global maximum * local maximum * maximal * maximize * maximum break * maximum limit * submaximum