7 VERB [usu passive] If something is limited to a particular place or group of people, it exists only in that place, or is had or done only by that group. □ [be V -ed + to ] The protests were not limited to New York. □ [be V -ed + to ] Entry to this prize draw is limited to U.K. residents.
8 → see also age limit , limited
9 PHRASE If an area or a place is off limits , you are not allowed to go there. □ A one-mile area around the wreck is still off limits. □ These establishments are off limits to ordinary citizens.
10 PHRASE If someone is over the limit , they have drunk more alcohol than they are legally allowed to when driving a vehicle. [BRIT ] □ If police breathalyse me and find I am over the limit I face a long ban.
11 PHRASE If you say the sky is the limit , you mean that there is nothing to prevent someone or something from being very successful. □ They have found that, in terms of both salary and career success, the sky is the limit.
12 PHRASE If you add within limits to a statement, you mean that it is true or applies only when talking about reasonable or normal situations. □ In the circumstances we'll tell you what we can, within limits, of course, and in confidence. COLLOCATIONS limit NOUN 2
noun + limit : age, height, size; speed, time; alcohol, drink-drive
adjective + limit : legal, statutory; lower, upper; acceptable, reasonable, recommended, strict
verb + limit : impose, set; break, exceed SYNONYMS limit NOUN
3
boundary: The Bow Brook forms the western boundary of the wood.
edge: We were on a hill, right on the edge of town.
confines: The movie is set entirely within the confines of the abandoned factory.
4
restriction: The relaxation of travel restrictions means they are free to travel and work.
constraint: Water shortages in the area will be the main constraint on development.
limitation: There is to be no limitation on the number of opposition parties. VERB 5
restrict: There is talk of raising the admission requirements to restrict the number of students on campus.
controclass="underline" The federal government tried to control rising health-care costs.
check: A free press will help to check corruption.
curb: Inflation needs to be curbed.
limi|ta|tion /l I m I te I ʃ ə n/ (limitations )
1 N‑UNCOUNT The limitation of something is the act or process of controlling or reducing it. □ [+ of ] All the talk had been about the limitation of nuclear weapons. □ …damage limitation.
2 N‑VAR A limitation on something is a rule or decision which prevents that thing from growing or extending beyond certain limits. □ [+ on ] …a limitation on the tax deductions for people who make more than $100,000 a year. □ [+ on ] There is to be no limitation on the number of opposition parties.
3 N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] If you talk about the limitations of someone or something, you mean that they can only do some things and not others, or cannot do something very well. □ [+ of ] Parents are too likely to blame schools for the educational limitations of their children.
4 N‑VAR A limitation is a fact or situation that allows only some actions and makes others impossible. □ This drug has one important limitation. Its effects only last six hours.
lim|it|ed ◆◇◇ /l I m I t I d/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is limited is not very great in amount, range, or degree. □ They may only have a limited amount of time to get their points across.
2 ADJ [ADJ n, n ADJ ] A limited company is one whose owners are legally responsible for only a part of any money that it may owe if it goes bankrupt. [mainly BRIT , BUSINESS ] □ They had plans to turn the club into a limited company. □ He is the founder of International Sports Management Limited. in AM, use incorporated
li m|it|ed edi |tion (limited editions ) N‑COUNT A limited edition is a work of art, such as a book which is only produced in very small numbers, so that each one will be valuable in the future.
lim|it|less /l I m I tləs/ ADJ If you describe something as limitless , you mean that there is or appears to be so much of it that it will never be exhausted. □ …a cheap and potentially limitless supply of energy. □ The opportunities are limitless.
limo /l I moʊ/ (limos ) N‑COUNT [oft by N ] A limo is a limousine . [INFORMAL ]
lim|ou|sine /l I məziː n/ (limousines ) N‑COUNT A limousine is a large and very comfortable car. Limousines are usually driven by a chauffeur and are used by very rich or important people.
limp /l I mp/ (limps , limping , limped , limper , limpest )
1 VERB If a person or animal limps , they walk with difficulty or in an uneven way because one of their legs or feet is hurt. □ [V ] I wasn't badly hurt, but I injured my thigh and had to limp. □ [V adv/prep] He had to limp off with a leg injury. ● N‑COUNT Limp is also a noun. □ A stiff knee following surgery forced her to walk with a limp.