limit Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun the greatest possible degree of something
boundary; bound.
- what he did was beyond the bounds of acceptable behavior
- to the limit of his ability
noun final or latest limiting point
terminus ad quem; terminal point.
noun as far as something can go
noun the boundary of a specific area
demarcation line; demarcation.
noun the mathematical value toward which a function goes as the independent variable approaches infinity
limit point; point of accumulation.
noun the greatest amount of something that is possible or allowed
limitation.
- there are limits on the amount you can bet
- it is growing rapidly with no limitation in sight
verb place limits on (extent or access)
throttle; bound; restrict; trammel; restrain; confine.
- restrict the use of this parking lot
- limit the time you can spend with your friends
verb restrict or confine, "I limit you to two visits to the pub a day"
circumscribe; confine.
verb decide upon or fix definitely
set; fix; determine; specify; define.
- fix the variables
- specify the parameters

From L. limes, limitis: cf. F.limite; -or from E. limit, v. See Limit, v. t.

That which terminates, circumscribes, restrains, or confines; the bound, border, or edge; the utmost extent; as, the limit of a walk, of a town, of a country; the limits of human knowledge or endeavor.
As eager of the chase, the maid Beyond the forest's verdant limits strayed. Pope.
The space or thing defined by limits.
The archdeacon hath divided it Into three limits very equally. Shak.
That which terminates a period of time; hence, the period itself; the full time or extent.
The dateless limit of thy dear exile. Shak.

The limit of your lives is out. Shak.
A restriction; a check; a curb; a hindrance.
I prithee, give no limits to my tongue. Shak.
(Logic & Metaph.) A determining feature; a distinguishing characteristic a differentia.
(Math.) A determinate quantity, to which a variable one continually approaches, and may differ from it by less than any given difference, but to which, under the law of variation, the variable can never become exactly equivalent. Syn. -- Boundary; border; edge; termination; restriction; bound; confine.

F. limiter, L. limitare, fr. limes, limitis, limit; prob. akin to limen threshold, E. eliminate; cf. L. limus sidelong.

imperfect & past participle Limited; present participle & verbal noun Limiting

To apply a limit to, or set a limit for; to terminate, circumscribe, or restrict, by a limit or limits; as, to limit the acreage of a crop; to limit the issue of paper money; to limit one's ambitions or aspirations; to limit the meaning of a word.

To beg, or to exercise functions, within a certain limited region; as, a limiting friar. Obs.