The best or most suitable; e.g., denoting the dose of a remedy likely to give most benefit with fewest side effect s, the temperature or pH at which an enzyme has maximal activity. [L. ntr. sing. of optimus, best]
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1) the amount or degree of something that is most favorable to some end esp the most favorable condition for the growth and reproduction of an organism
2) greatest degree attained or attainable under implied or specified conditions
optimum adj
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op·ti·mum (opґtĭ-məm) [L. “bestâ€] that condition of surroundings which is conducive to the most favorable activity or function.Medical dictionary. 2011.