2ADJ [ADJ n](数量)极少的 You use minimum to state how small an amount is. (数量)极少的
The basic needs of life are available with minimum effort.
稍加努力就能满足生活的基本需求。
Neil and Chris try to spend the minimum amount of time on the garden.
尼尔与克里斯想尽可能少花时间打理花园。
Minimum is also a noun.
With a minimum of fuss, she produced the grandson he had so desperately wished for.
没经过多少忙乱,她就生了一个他做梦都想要的孙子。
3ADV 最低;至少 If you say that something is a particular amount minimum, you mean that this is the smallest amount it should be or could possibly be, although a larger amount is acceptable or very possible. 最低;至少
You're talking over a thousand pounds minimum for one course.
你说的可是一门课程收费至少1,000英镑。
4PHRASE 至少;最小 You use at a minimum, or at the minimum, when you want to indicate that something is the very least which could or should happen. 至少;最小
This would take three months at a minimum.
这至少要3个月。
At the minimum, they must be guaranteed against any form of further attack.
至少要保证他们不再受到任何形式的攻击。
5PHRASE 尽可能少的数量;最低限度 If you say that someone keeps something to a minimum, or to the minimum, you mean that they keep the amount of it as small as possible. 尽可能少的数量;最低限度
Office machinery is kept to a minimum.
办公室的机器数量维持在最低限度。
She has now cut her teaching hours to the minimum.
ADJECTIVE | VERB + MINIMUM | PREPOSITION | PHRASESADJECTIVE➤absolute, bare, very絕對最小值;最低限度;最低點▸➤agreed, guaranteed商定的最低值;擔保的最低限度▸➤recommended建議的最小值▸➤federal, legal, mandatory, required, statutory聯邦最低限;法定的最低限度;強制性的最低限度;規定的最低點➤age (NAmE) 最低年齡◇Many states impose an age minimum of eighteen for the death penalty.許多國家設定死刑最低年齡為 18 歲。VERB + MINIMUM➤keep sth to, reduce sth to將⋯保持在最低限度;將⋯減少至最低限度◇Two fire crews managed to keep damage to a minimum.兩組消防隊員成功地將損失減至最低。➤reach達到最低點◇The sun's temperature reached a minimum in the summer of 1981.1981 年夏天,太陽的溫度達到了最低點。➤exceed超過最低點▸➤regard sth as認為⋯是最低值◇A temperature of 121°C is regarded as the minimum necessary to achieve sterility.要做到無菌,溫度起碼得達到 121 攝氏度。➤pay支付最低還款額◇Many people pay the minimum on their credit cards.很多人只支付信用卡的最低還款額。PREPOSITION➤above (the) minimum, at (a/the) minimum超過最低限;至少◇Candidates must have a degree at a minimum.候選人必須至少擁有學位。➤below (the) minimum, down to a minimum低於最低限度;降到最低點◇We tried to keep costs down to a minimum.我們盡量把費用控制到最低。➤minimum of最少⋯◇a minimum of $20最少 20 美元◇a minimum of fuss盡量不把事情搞大PHRASES➤the minimum necessary, the minimum needed必要的/需要的最低限度▸➤the minimum possible可能的最低限度◇He's always done the minimum possible to pass his exams.他用功一向只求通過考試。➤with the minimum of delay, with the minimum of disruption, with the minimum of fuss盡可能少的拖延;盡可能少的干擾;盡可能不大驚小怪➤with the minimum of effort用盡可能少的努力◇The tent can be put up with the minimum of effort.這帳篷幾乎不用費力氣就能支起來。➤with the minimum of risk以最小的風險