extreme Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the furthest or highest degree of something
    • he carried it to extremes
  2. noun the point located farthest from the middle of something
    extremum; extreme point.
  3. adjective satellite of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
    uttermost; utmost.
    • extreme cold
    • extreme caution
    • extreme pleasure
    • utmost contempt
    • to the utmost degree
    • in the uttermost distress
  4. adjective satellite far beyond a norm in quantity or amount or degree; to an utmost degree
    • an extreme example
    • extreme temperatures
    • extreme danger
  5. adjective satellite beyond a norm in views or actions
    • an extreme conservative
    • an extreme liberal
    • extreme views on integration
    • extreme opinions
  6. adjective satellite most distant in any direction
    • the extreme edge of town

WordNet

Ex*treme" adjective
Etymology
L. extremus, superl. of exter, extrus, on the outside, outward: cf. F. extrême. See Exterior.
Definitions
  1. At the utmost point, edge, or border; outermost; utmost; farthest; most remote; at the widest limit.
  2. Last; final; conclusive; -- said of time; as, the extreme hour of life.
  3. The best of worst; most urgent; greatest; highest; immoderate; excessive; most violent; as, an extreme case; extreme folly. "The extremest remedy." Dryden. "Extreme rapidity." Sir W. Scott.
    Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire. Shak.
  4. Radical; ultra; as, extreme opinions.
    The Puritans or extreme Protestants. Gladstone.
  5. (Mus.) Extended or contracted as much as possible; -- said of intervals; as, an extreme sharp second; an extreme flat forth. ✍ Although this adjective, being superlative in signification, is not properly subject to comparison, the superlative form not unfrequently occurs, especially in the older writers. "Tried in his extremest state." Spenser. "Extremest hardships." Sharp. "Extremest of evils." Bacon. "Extremest verge of the swift brook." Shak. "The sea's extremest borders." Addison.
Ex*treme" noun
Definitions
  1. The utmost point or verge; that part which terminates a body; extremity.
  2. Utmost limit or degree that is supposable or tolerable; hence, furthest degree; any undue departure from the mean; -- often in the plural: things at an extreme distance from each other, the most widely different states, etc.; as, extremes of heat and cold, of virtue and vice; extremes meet.
    His parsimony went to the extreme of meanness. Bancroft.
  3. An extreme state or condition; hence, calamity, danger, distress, etc. "Resolute in most extremes." Shak.
  4. (Logic) Either of the extreme terms of a syllogism, the middle term being interposed between them.
  5. (Math.) The first or the last term of a proportion or series. J. P. Peters.

Webster 1913