the largest possible amount
the most Ids 'maosf the largest amount that is possible: I'm afraid £500 is the
most 1 can offer you. I The most you can hope to achieve is a 10% increase in production.
maximum /"maeksimsm [adj] the maximum amount of something is the largest amount that is possible or allowed maximum amount/number/speed Travelling at its maximum speed of 186 mph. the train reached Paris in less than two hours. I We want our message to reach the maximum number of people. the maximum (=the maximum number or amount) Thirty students per class is the maximum.
Top is often used in newspapers, advertisements etc. Maximum is more formal or more technical than top.
top top||ta:p/ [adj only before noun) top speed/price/salary etc the highest speed, price etc. or the most that is possible: The 1.6 litre sports version has a top speed of 121 mph. ! The top price paid was $1,200,000 for a print by Degas.
A
most often
mostly/mainly 'maostli, memii; [adu)
use this to say that someone does one thing more than they do anything else.- We eat mostly Italian food. 1 She has to travel abroad a lot, mostly to Spain and France. I a singer whose records are bought mainly by teenage girls
in most cases /in msost .keis^z/' use this to say that things happen in one way more often than in any other way, in the situation that you are talking about: In most cases the new drug is very effective. f The seeds will start to grow within two weeks in most cases.
most of the time /'maust av to ,taim
FATHER
FAMILY
BABY
almost always: Most of the time I just answer the phone and type letters. I This place is really busy most of the time.
MOTHER
WOMAN
see also
i
CHILD
D mother
mother 'тлЛэг [n C] Her mother is a teacher. I Like most mothers, I always felt anxious when my children came home late. I Terri Godwin, a mother of three. was attacked as she walked home yesterday.
Qmum British mom american тми, mnm|ma:m [n C) spoken а пате you use to talk to your mother or to talk about her: My mum and dad are both doctors I Mom, what's for dinner?
Qmummy rritish mommy amlrican 'rmmi. тогт| ma:mi [n C] spoken а пате for your mother - used especially by young children or when you are talking to young children: Ben, is your mommy coming to the Christmas concert? 1 "Goodnight, Mummy," said Sara. niur.il mummies/mommies
like a mother
maternal/motherly тэ'п:гп1, тлсЪПг
MOST 500
most of all (=much more than anything else) What the people here need most is food and clean water.
the fTlOSt ,'ds 'maust a larger amount or
number than anyone or anything else: /п a fair tax system those who earn the most should pay the most. the most things/points/votes etc The player who scores the most points wins. the most money/Juel/Lnformation etc Choose the program that gives you the most information.
|adj] caring and kind like a mother - use this about women or their feelings: Claire was very maternal towards the other children. I She kept a maternal eye on them all. I Mrs Woodrow, a good-natured motherly woman, took care of their children while they were at work.
MOVE/NOT MOVE
if you mean 'move house', go to
houses/where people live
FAST
SLIDE
CO
RUN
TRAVEL
SLOW fT _ SHAKE
see also
i v
WALK STOP
501 MOVE/NOT MOVE
move sth to/into stk We'll have to move the table into the hall.
transfer tramsT?:1" [v T] to move something and put it in a different place or container
transfer sth (from sth) to sth Transfer
the cookies to a wire rack to cool. I Information can be transferred from one computer to another.
transferring - transferred - have transferred
Transfer is more formal than move.
to move from one place or position to another
move /mu:v/ [v to go to a different place or to change the position of your body: Every time I move I get a pain in my shoulder. I Will you move so that I can come past, please? I Don't get off the bus while it's moving. I Don't move, or I'll shoot!
+ away/forward/toward etc She moved
away from the window.
move around (=to different parts of an
area) I can hear someone moving around
downstairs1.
movement muivmont [n C/U} when something or someone moves: the dancer's graceful movements I Any movement will set off the alarm. + of Tourists come to see the mass move- ment of these animals across the plains of Africa.
moving "mu:vir)/ 1 adj only before noun] not staying still, but changing position or
going from one place to another: This
photograph was taken from the window of a moving vehicle. I AH the moving parts of the engine must be kept well oiled.
В to move something from one place or position to another
move /muiv/ In T) to take something to a different place or change the position of something: Will you move your car, please - it's blocking the road. I I think my hand is broken - I can't move my fingers.
to keep moving your body
fidget fid.iU [v fj to keep moving or playing with your fingers, hands, feet etc. because you are bored or nervous: Stop
fidgetingf
+ with Diana started fidgeting with her
pencil.
Qcan't keep still ,ka:nt ki:p 'stilj
karnt- spoken if you can't keep still, you keep moving your body because you are excited or nervous and you cannot relax: I was so excited that I couldn 't keep still all morning!