1
- a point or level beyond which something does not or may not extend or pass界限：
the failure showed the limits of British power
这次失败表明了英国实力的局限
the 10-minute limit on speeches
十分钟的讲演时限
there was no limit to his imagination.
他有无限的想象力。
1.1
- （常作 limits）the terminal point or boundary of an area or movement（地区或活动的）范围：
the city limits
城市的范围
the upper limit of the tidal reaches.
海潮的最高点。
1.2
- the furthest extent of one's physical or mental endurance（体力或脑力的）极限：
Mary Ann tried everyone's patience to the limit
玛丽安让大家忍无可忍了
other horses were reaching their limit.
其他的马体力消耗都快要到极限了。
2
- a restriction on the size or amount of something permissible or possible限制：
an age limit
年龄限制
a weight limit.
体重限制。
2.1
- a speed limit速度限制：
a 30 mph limit.
限速每小时30英里。
2.2
- （亦作 legal limit）the maximum concentration of alcohol in the blood that the law allows in the driver of a motor vehicle（法律允许的机动车驾驶员血液的）最高酒精浓度：
the risk of drinkers inadvertently going over the limit.
不慎超限量饮酒的危险。
3
- Mathematics a point or value which a sequence, function, or sum of a series can be made to approach progressively, until they are as close to it as desired【数】极限。
(limited, limiting)with obj.
- set or serve as a limit to限制：
try to limit the amount you drink
限制你的饮酒量
class sizes are limited to a maximum of 10
班级人数最多限定10人
as adj. limiting a limiting factor.限制性因素。
短语
be the limit
- informal be intolerably troublesome or irritating〈非正式〉十分讨厌的, 令人极度气恼的。
off limits
- out of bounds禁止入内：
they declared the site off limits
他们宣布该地禁止入内
figurative 〈喻〉 there was no topic that was off limits for discussion.
没有什么禁止讨论的话题。
within limits
- moderately; up to a point适度地, 在某范围内。
without limit
- with no restriction没有限制。
派生词
limitative
adjective词源
late Middle English: from Latin limes, limit- 'boundary， frontier'. The verb is from Latin limitare, from limes.