LIMIT1 the largest amount that is allowed or possible2 the smallest amount that is allowed or possible3 when there are limits on what you can do4 to put a limit on something5 when there is a limit on the size or amount of something6 when there is no limitRELATED WORDSwhen there is not enough of something 没有足够的某物ENOUGH/NOT ENOUGHsee alsoCONTROL/NOT CONTROLRULE/REGULATIONLAW1 the largest amount that is allowed or possible 允许或可能的最大数量limit /ˈlɪmɪt, ˈlɪmət/ [countable noun usually singular]the highest number, speed, temperature etc that is allowed by a law or rule 〔数目、速度、温度等的〕限制；限度 He borrowed money up to the limit that the bank allowed. 他向银行借的钱达到了银行允许的最高限额。limit on There's no limit on the amount of money that may be brought into the US. 可以带进美国的钱没有最高限额。time/age/speed limit The Interstate speed limit is 65 m.p.h. 州际公路上的限速是每小时65英里。over/above the limit Pollution levels in the water were found to be over the official limit. 水的污染程度被发现超过了官方的规定。set a limitdecide what a limit will be 设定限量 Some families set limits on how much they spend on each other's Christmas present. 有些家庭为圣诞节互送礼物设定消费限额。maximum /ˈmæksɪməm, ˈmæksəməm/ [adjective only before noun]themaximum number or amount is the largest number or amount that is possible, normal, or allowed 最大量的；最大限度的 After leaving Calais, the train soon reaches its maximum speed of 300 kph. 列车驶出加来后很快就达到了每小时300公里的最高时速。 Forty is the maximum number of passengers this bus is allowed to carry. 这辆公共汽车限载40名乘客。 Ditikins faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. 迪提金斯面临着最长15年的刑期。maximum [singular noun]the maximum You don't have to wait long for a new passport - 3 weeks is about the maximum. 新护照不需要等很长时间—三个星期差不多是最长的了。a maximum of £10/50%/30 degrees etc Individuals may donate a maximum of $1000 to the campaign. 个人最多可向这次活动捐赠1,000美元。the most /ðə ˈməʊst/ [quantifier]the largest amount or number of something 最多量；最大数额the most (that) He likes to gamble, but the most he ever won was $1000. 他喜欢赌博，但是他赢得最多的一次也就是1,000美元。 Two cakes is the most that I can bake in my oven at one time. 我的烤箱一次最多能烤两个蛋糕。at most/at the mostas the largest amount possible or allowed 最多 A new tyre would cost £70 at the very most. 一条新轮胎最多卖70英镑。upper limit /ˌʌpəʳ ˈlɪmt/ [countable noun usually singular]the largest amount of something that is allowed within a range 〔允许范围的〕上限，最高限度 The explosion had a force that was close to the upper limit allowed by nuclear arms treaties. 此次爆炸的威力接近于核武器条约所允许的上限。upper limit on The Pentagon did not set an upper limit on troop deployments during the war. 五角大楼对战时的军队调配没有规定上限。ceiling /ˈsiːlɪŋ/ [singular noun]the largest number or amount of something that is officially allowed - use this especially in business 上限，最大限度〔尤用于商业方面〕 Import quotas may rise from the present ceiling of 18.5 million to 20 million. 进口配额可能会从目前1,850万的上限上升到2000万。ceiling on There is a ceiling on the amount of foreign investment allowed in any company in the country. 国内公司所允许的国外投资是有上限的。debt ceilingthe largest amount that a country is allowed to owe 〔国家的〕债务最高限额 Congress was once again considering raising the federal debt ceiling. 国会又一次在考虑上调联邦债务的上限。cut-off point /ˈkʌt ɒf ˌpɔɪnt/ [countable noun usually singular]the largest amount or number that is allowed before something stops happening, has an effect etc 〔某事停止发生、产生作用的〕截止点 The machine's cut-off point is 1000 volts, which is the safety maximum. 机器的断电点是1,000伏特，这是最大安全限值。 Science has pushed back the cut-off point at which a woman can no longer bear children. 科学已经将女性停止生育的年龄往后推了。2 the smallest amount that is allowed or possible 允许或可能的最小数量the least /ðə ˈliːst/ [quantifier]the smallest amount or number of something 最低量；最小数the least (that) £20,000 is the least we could accept for a car of this type. 这种型号的汽车我们至少要两万英镑才能接受。 The least anyone around here works is about 50 hours per week. 这里的人每周至少工作50小时左右。minimum /ˈmɪnɪməm, ˈmɪnəməm/ [adjective]theminimum number or amount is the smallest number or amount that is possible or allowed 最小的；最少的；最低限度的 What is the minimum wage these days? 现在最低工资是多少？ The minimum age to buy cigarettes is 18. 购买香烟的最低年龄是18岁。minimum [singular noun]the minimum He usually just pays the minimum each month on his credit cards. 他一般每个月只付信用卡的最低还款额。a minimum of £10/50%/30 degrees etc You have to stay for a minimum of 7 days. 你必须至少逗留七天。absolute/bare minimumthe very least number or amount 绝对/仅够的最少量 The hospital has reduced staffing to an absolute minimum. 医院已经将职工人数减到不能再减了。keep something to a minimum Let's try to keep irrelevant comments to a minimum. 不相关的话，我们尽量少说。lower limit /ˌləʊəʳ ˈlɪmt/ [countable noun usually singular]the least amount of something that is allowed within a range 〔允许范围的〕下限，最低限度 Age 3 is really the lower limit for teaching children to swim. 3岁其实是教小孩子学游泳的最小年龄。lower limit of Deposits are subject to a lower limit of $400. 存款的下限是400美元。threshold /ˈθreʃhəʊld, -ʃəʊld/ [countable noun]a number or level at which something begins to happen or to have an effect, especially the lowest number or level 〔某事物开始发生或产生作用的〕限度〔尤指最低限度〕 If the temperature falls below a particular threshold, a warning light comes on. 如果温度降到某个底线，警示灯就会亮起来。 Under the proposal, those whose earnings were less than a $36,000 threshold would not have to pay taxes. 根据这一提议，收入低于36,000美元这一下限者无须纳税。3 when there are limits on what you can do 所能做的事情有限度limits /ˈlɪmɪts, ˈlɪməts/ [plural noun]the rules or facts that control someone's freedom or their ability to do what they want 限度；限制limits to There are practical limits to the number of cases we can deal with each day. 我们每天所能处理的案件数量有实际的限制。limits of He's well aware of the limits of his knowledge. 他深知自己知识有限。within limits We want our employees to enjoy themselves, within certain limits. 我们要让我们的员工过得愉快，但是要有一定的分寸。limitations /ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃənz, ˌlɪməˈteɪʃənz/ [plural noun]limits on what someone or something is able to do 限制，局限limitations of The limitations of the computer system make some operations very difficult. 该电脑系统的局限性使某些操作变得十分困难。limitations on The president was unwilling to accept limitations on his power. 总裁不愿意接受权力上的限制。physical limitations Hikers should know their physical limitations and not take unnecessary risks. 远足者应该知道自己体力上的不足，不要去冒不必要的危险。restrictions /rɪˈstrɪkʃənz/ [plural noun]rules or laws that strictly control what you are allowed to do 限制，规定，约束 There are certain travel restrictions in effect in certain areas along the border. 边境的某些地区实行了一些旅行限制。restrictions on Unions are pressing for restrictions on steel imports from Japan. 工会正敦促限制从日本进口钢材。 Because of restrictions on reporting, newspapers were not allowed to cover the story. 因为新闻报道方面的限制，报纸不允许报道这一事件。impose restrictionsofficially order that something must be limited 实施限制 New restrictions have been imposed on immigration. 新的移民限制已经实施。constraints /kənˈstreɪnts/ [plural noun]facts or conditions that limit what you can do, for example not having enough time, money etc 约束，限制〔如时间、金钱等不够〕 Because of time constraints two acts had to be cut from the show. 由于时间上的限制，演出删去了两幕。constraints of The constraints of prison life are sometimes too much for people to bear. 狱中生活的约束有时候使犯人难以忍受。be limited /biː ˈlɪmtd/ [verb phrase]to not be able to do everything that you want because things are not available, there are rules or laws about it etc 〔因缺乏某物而〕受到限制；有限 Our choice of shops is somewhat limited because we don't have a car. 由于没有车，我们能去的商店有限。be limited to We're limited to two weeks of vacation a year, so a three-week safari isn't possible. 我们每年的假期只有两个星期，所以三个星期的游猎之旅是不可能的。be limited by Many Hong Kong performers are limited by their lack of English skills in making the transition to Hollywood. 许多香港艺人因受其英语能力所限，难以进军好莱坞。be restricted /biː rɪˈstrɪktd/ [verb phrase]if somethingis restricted to a particular amount, time, group etc, there are rules or other conditions limiting it to that amount, time, group etc 受限制于〔数量、时间、组别等〕 Access to the President is restricted. 总统不能随便接近。be restricted to In those days, visiting in the hospital was restricted to specific weekend hours only. 那个时候，到医院探望病人只限在周末特定的几个小时。be restricted by Because Forbes was using his own money, he was not restricted by federal limits on campaign spending. 因为福布斯用的是他自己的钱，他的竞选开支不受联邦政府规定上限的约束。be constrained /biː kənˈstreɪnd/ [verb phrase]to be unable to do what you want to do because of facts or conditions, for example, because you do not have enough time or money 〔如因时间或金钱不够而〕被约束，受限制 Sharon's options were severely constrained because of the foolish choices she made as a teenager. 由于十来岁时所作的愚蠢决定，莎伦现在的选择受到很大限制。be constrained by Research is often constrained by lack of sufficient data. 研究工作常常因为缺乏足够的数据而受到限制。scope /skəʊp/ [uncountable noun]the range of things that a particular activity is allowed to include or have an effect on 〔活动、影响的〕范围scope of A clear statement of the goal and scope of a research project is a useful reference point. 研究项目有一个明确的目标和范围说明是很有用的参照点。within the scope It was determined that the Commissioner had been acting within the scope of his official duties. 警察局长被认定是在自己的职责范围内行事。beyond/outside the scope I'm afraid the matter falls outside the scope of this enquiry. 恐怕这件事已超出此次调查的范围。in scope Regulations are important in markets that are increasingly international in scope. 在活动范围日渐国际化的市场里，法规很重要。of enormous/historic/wide etc scope The ruling party has granted concessions of considerable scope. 执政党已经作出了很大的让步。confines /ˈkɒnfaɪnzǁˈkɑːn-/ [plural noun]the limits on a situation, organization, activity etc that control what people are allowed to do 〔情况、组织、行动的〕界限；范围confines of She felt trapped by the narrow confines of the convent. 她感觉被修道院的条条框框束缚了。within the confines We must operate within the confines of the law. 我们必须在法律允许的范围内经营。beyond/outside the confines Hypothetical thinking goes beyond the confines of everyday experience. 假想超越了日常经历的局限。parameters /pəˈræmɪtəʳz, pəˈræmətəʳz/ [plural noun]a set of limits within which an activity can be done - use this in business, education, or technical contexts 限制因素，制约；范围〔尤用于商业、教育或技术方面〕 In the private sector there are clear parameters which surround labour relations. 私营机构里对于劳资关系有明确的规定。within/outside the parameters of something It is only within the parameters of a clear set of goals that a national science program can be successful. 只有在明确的目标范围里，国家的科研计划才能取得成功。4 to put a limit on something 限制某事物limit /ˈlɪmɪt, ˈlɪmət/ [transitive verb]to stop a number or amount from becoming too large, or stop someone from doing whatever they want 限制，限定 The new law limits the number of foreign cars that can be imported. 这条新的法规限制了外国汽车的进口数量。 Men hold most of the top jobs, and this limits women's opportunities for promotion. 大部分高职都由男性担任，这就限制了女性的晋升机会。limit somebody/something to something Let's limit our discussion to the facts in the report. 我们把讨论限定在报告中所涉及的事情吧。limit yourself to something As you look for material to write about, don't limit yourself to other people's ideas. 你在找资料写东西的时候，不要光局限于使用别人的观点。restrict /rɪˈstrɪkt/ [transitive verb]to strictly control and limit the size, amount, or range of something 限制；规定；控制〔尺寸、数量、范围等〕 The law would restrict the sale of handguns. 这条法律将限制枪支销售。restrict somebody/something to something This year's AIDS conference is restricted in size to fewer than 3,000 participants. 今年的艾滋病大会与会人数限制在3,000人以下。restrict yourself to something McGregor has said he will voluntarily restrict himself to $2.2 million in campaign spending. 麦格雷戈说过，他将主动把竞选开支控制在220万美元。set/impose/put a limit /ˌset, ɪmˌpəʊz, ˌpʊt ə ˈlɪmt/ [verb phrase]to control the size or amount of something, or to control an activity, by deciding what the limits of it will be 限制〔某事物的大小或数量，或某一活动〕set/impose/put a limit on Governments should put strict limits on tobacco advertising. 政府应该严格限制烟草广告。 The courts have imposed limits on school officials’ power to dismiss teachers. 法庭限制了学校高级职员解雇教师的权力。set/impose a limit of something The president set a time limit of 6 months for the negotiations to produce an agreement. 总统给这次谈判设定了六个月的期限来达成协议。set/impose a limit Parents need to know when to set limits for their children's behavior. 家长需要知道何时要限制孩子的行为。keep to/keep within /ˈkiːp tuː, ˈkiːp wɪðɪn/ [transitive phrasal verb]if youkeep to orkeep within the limits of something, you make yourself stay within those limits 限制在…的范围内 We need to keep to the schedule if we're going to finish on time. 我们若要按时完成，就需按计划进行。 Keep within the speed limit and you should have no problems. 不超速，你就不会有麻烦。confine /kənˈfaɪn/ [transitive verb]to keep something within the limits of a particular activity or subject, especially when it is difficult for you to do this 〔尤指困难地〕把…局限于；把…限制于confine somebody/something to something Rebel troops have confined their attacks mainly to the southern part of the country. 叛军把袭击目标限定在国家的南部地区。confine yourself to something The report confines itself to known and verifiable facts. 这篇报道的内容只限于可以核实的已知事实。fix /fɪks/ [transitive verb]to decide on the limit of something, especially something that often changes, and make it stay the same for a long time 决定，确定〔尤指经常变动的事物〕 Interest rates for savings accounts have been fixed at 7% for the rest of the year. 今年余下时间的存款利率已定为7%。 The project has finally been approved and the budget has been fixed. 这个项目终于得到批准，预算也定下来了。5 when there is a limit on the size or amount of something 某事物的大小或数量有限制limited /ˈlɪmɪtəd, ˈlɪmətəd/ [adjective]if something islimited, only a fixed amount is allowed or available 有限的 We only have a limited amount of time in which to finish the work. 我们完成这工作的时间有限。 Call now - this offer is good for a limited time only. 现在就打电话—这个优惠活动只限时推出。limited to The class is limited to 20 students. 这班的人数限20名学生。there are limits/there is a limit /ˌðeər ɑːʳ ˈlɪmts, ˌðeər ɪz ə ˈlɪmt/ifthere are limits orthere is a limit to something, only a particular amount or number is possible or allowed, and not any more than that 有限度；有限制 Of course, we'd like to have as many children as possible attend, but there are limits. 当然我们也希望有尽量多的孩子参加，但是人数有限制。there are limits/there is a limit on According to the director, there's a limit on the number of computers we can buy. 据董事讲，我们能够购买的电脑数量有限。there are limits/there is a limit to There are limits to what the human body can tolerate. 人体的承受力是有限度的。fixed /fɪkst/ [adjective]fixed number/amount/price etcone which has already been decided and which cannot be made higher or lower 固定的数目/数量/价格等 Our health insurance pays a fixed amount for each type of treatment, regardless of what it actually costs. 我们的健康保险对每种治疗都赔付一笔固定金额，不管实际费用是多少。 fixed interest rates 固定利率 Fixed costs should be separated from variable costs when working out the annual accounts. 做年度报表时，固定成本应与可变成本分开计算。finite /ˈfaɪnaɪt/ [adjective]something that isfinite has a limit and an end - use this especially in scientific contexts 有限的；有限制的〔尤用于科学方面〕 The speed at which light travels is finite. 光速是有限的。！ The earth has a finite number of resources which we must protect. 地球的资源是有限的，我们必须要加以保护。6 when there is no limit 没有限制unlimited /ʌnˈlɪmɪtɪd, ʌnˈlɪmətɪd/ [adjective]something that isunlimited has no fixed limit 没有限制的 We pay $20 a month for unlimited Internet access. 我们每月支付20美元就可以无限量上网。 The ticket is good for unlimited travel on the city's transportation system for 3 days. 这张票可在三天之内无限次乘坐本市的公共交通系统。 At the time of the purchase, the extent of Alaska and its resources must have seemed unlimited. 在购买阿拉斯加的时候，阿拉斯加肯定显得面积奇大，资源无穷。there is no limit /ðeər ɪz ˌnəʊ ˈlɪmt/use this to say that someone can have or do as much of something as they want 没有限度there is no limit to/on If we work together, there's no limit to what we can achieve. 我们如果齐心协力，所能成就的是无限的。 There's no limit to the number of times you can register to win. 登记抽奖的次数不限。boundless /ˈbaʊndləs/ [adjective]having no limit - used especially in literature 无限的，无穷的〔尤用于文学作品中〕 Taking care of small children is a job that requires boundless energy. 照顾小孩子要有无穷的精力。 They felt lost and alone on the vast, boundless sea. 他们在浩瀚无际的大海上漂泊，孤零零的，不知所措。infinite /ˈɪnfɪnət, ˈɪnfənət/ [adjective]something that isinfinite has no limit and no end, or does not have one that you can easily see - used especially in scientific contexts 无限的，无穷无尽的〔尤用于科学方面〕 The variations of color that a human eye can see are infinite. 人眼所能辨识的色彩变化是无穷无尽的。 infinite space 无边无际的宇宙 A natural language contains an infinite number of grammatical sentences. 自然语言中含有无数合语法的句子。the sky's the limit /ðə ˌskaɪz ðə ˈlɪmt/if you saythe sky's the limit, you mean that there is no upper limit on something such as the amount of money you can spend or on the success that you can have 没有任何限制 Pick out whatever you want - the sky's the limit. 你想要什么就选什么—没有限制。 We try to make our engineers feel that the sky's the limit when it comes to what they can design. 我们尽量让我们的工程师感到，他们想设计什么都可以。