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Optimum vs Adequate - What's the difference?

optimum | adequate |

As adjectives the difference between optimum and adequate

is that optimum is best or most advantageous; surpassing all others while adequate is equal to some requirement; proportionate, or correspondent; fully sufficient; as, powers adequate to a great work; an adequate definition lawfully and physically sufficient.

As a noun optimum

is the best or most favorable condition, or the greatest amount or degree possible under specific sets of comparable circumstances.

As a verb adequate is

to equalize; to make adequate.

optimum

English

Noun

(en-noun)
  • The best or most favorable condition, or the greatest amount or degree possible under specific sets of comparable circumstances.

    • Related terms

    * optimal * optimise, optimize * optimism * optimist * optimistic

    Derived terms

    * global optimum * local optimum

    Adjective

    (head)
  • best or most advantageous; surpassing all others

    • External links

    * * * ----

    adequate

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Equal to some requirement; proportionate, or correspondent; fully sufficient; as, powers adequate to a great work; an adequate definition lawfully and physically sufficient.
  • * De Quincey
    • Ireland had no adequate champion.
  • * Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Empty House
    • All day, as I drove upon my round, I turned over the case in my mind and found no explanation which appeared to me to be adequate .

    Antonyms

    * inadequate

    Verb

    (adequat)
  • (obsolete) To equalize; to make adequate.
    • (Fotherby)
  • (obsolete) To equal.
    • It [is] an impossibility for any creature to adequate God in his eternity. — Shelford.