📖 M — The English dictionary · page 17

maxim — Everyday, meaning 1: A maxim is a short, wise saying that gives a rule about how to behave or live.↗ Example: Grandma's favourite maxim is «Waste not, want not».↗ · «Treat others as you would like to be treated» is a famous maxim.↗ · My dad lives by the maxim «Better safe than sorry».↗ · We wrote our own maxims for the classroom wall.↗ · The old maxim says «Practice makes perfect».↗ · Each chapter begins with a maxim.↗ · Yes, there was written long ago the good old maxim: 'Think on the great moving-day of death!'↗ That is a serious thought.↗

maximal — Everyday, meaning 1: (formal) As big or as great as possible; the largest.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (maths) Being the greatest in a set, or so big that nothing can be added (a maximal value).↗ Example: The runner used maximal effort in the last lap.↗ · Find the maximal value in the table.↗ · The plant needs maximal sunlight to grow tall.↗ · The car reached its maximal speed on the straight road.↗ · The team wants maximal points from the season.↗ · The tank holds a maximal amount of 50 litres.↗

maximisation — Everyday, meaning 1: Making something as big, high or great as possible: «the maximisation of profit».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (maths) Finding the largest possible value of something under some rules.↗ Example: The maths puzzle was about maximisation of the rectangle's area.↗ · Profit maximisation is the main goal of many companies.↗ · Maximisation of space helped fit all the books on the shelves.↗ · The engineers worked on the maximisation of the battery's life.↗ · In this game, maximisation of your score means collecting every coin.↗ · Maximisation and minimisation are two sides of optimisation.↗ · The farmer planned for maximisation of his crop.↗ · A square gives maximisation of area for a fixed perimeter of a rectangle.↗

maximum — Everyday, meaning 1: The maximum is the largest amount, number or size that is possible or allowed.↗ e.g. "the maximum is 30 pupils".↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (adjective) Maximum means the greatest.↗ e.g. "maximum speed", "maximum score".↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (informal) Maximum after a number means "at most".↗ e.g. "it'll take ten minutes maximum".↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (informal) "To the max" means as much as possible.↗ Example: The maximum score on the test is 50.↗ · The lift can carry a maximum of 8 people.↗ · In the list 3, 9, 4, 7 the maximum is 9.↗ · The range is the maximum minus the minimum.↗ · Today's maximum temperature will be 25 degrees.↗ · The car's maximum speed is 180 kilometres an hour.↗ · It'll take twenty minutes, maximum.↗ · We turned the music up to the max.↗

may — Everyday, meaning 1: May means something is allowed: you may go out.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: May means something is possible: it may rain.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: May is used for polite requests: may I come in?↗ Everyday, meaning 4: May is the fifth month of the year, with 31 days.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: May (or hawthorn) is a tree with white spring flowers.↗ Everyday, meaning 6: (formal) «May» is used for wishes: «May you have a long life.».↗ Everyday, meaning 7: (formal, exam, rules) «May» states what is permitted by a rule: «Candidates may use a calculator»; «may not» means it is forbidden.↗ Everyday, meaning 8: (casual) In quick talk «may» is often replaced by «can» or «might»: «can I go?», «might rain»; «may as well» means there is no reason not to.↗ Example: You may use a ruler.↗ · She saved 1 dollar a day in May.↗ · May has 31 days.↗ · Each child may take 2 sweets.↗ · May I go to the toilet, please?↗ · It may snow tonight, so wear a hat.↗ · Our school sports day is in May.↗ · You may not run in the corridor.↗ · The birds come back in May.↗ · bus is late again, may as well walk (casual)↗ · Can I go? — You may not, and don't ask again.↗ (rough, strict)↗ · Candidates may assume that each month of May comprises 31 days; compute the aggregate saving at one dollar per day.↗ (formal exam)↗ · Of all clean birds ye may eat.↗ (Torah DEU.14.11, JPS 1917)↗ · Of all clean winged things ye may eat.↗ (Torah DEU.14.20, JPS 1917)↗ · Every male among the priests may eat thereof; it is most holy.↗ (Torah LEV.6.29, JPS 1917)↗ · May his years be as many generations!↗ (Writings PSA.61.7, JPS 1917)↗ · If a man die, may he live again?↗ (Writings JOB.14.14, JPS 1917)↗ · May he be enthroned before God for ever!↗ (Writings PSA.61.8, JPS 1917)↗

maya — Everyday, meaning 1: A people of Central America (southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and nearby) whose ancient civilisation built stone cities and pyramids.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: One of the Mayan languages.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A girl's name.↗ Example: The ancient Maya built tall stone pyramids.↗ · The Maya counted in twenties, not tens.↗ · The Maya were among the first people to use a sign for zero.↗ · Chocolate drinks were important to the Maya.↗ · We made Maya number glyphs with dots and bars.↗ · Millions of Maya people still live in Mexico and Guatemala today.↗ · Maya is in my class and sits next to me.↗ · Maya writing used picture-like symbols called glyphs.↗

mayan — Everyday, meaning 1: To do with the Maya, the people of Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras) whose ancient civilisation built stone cities and pyramids.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A Maya person; also the Mayan languages, which millions of people still speak today.↗ Example: The Mayan pyramid had steep steps up to a temple.↗ · We wrote our ages in Mayan numbers using dots and bars.↗ · Mayan people still live in Guatemala and speak Mayan languages.↗ · The Mayan calendar was very accurate.↗ · Ancient Mayan farmers grew maize, beans and squash.↗ · A shell stood for zero in Mayan maths.↗ · Some people claimed the Mayan calendar said the world would end, but it did not say that.↗

maybe — Everyday, meaning 1: Maybe means perhaps: it might be true or might not, and you are not sure.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Maybe makes a polite suggestion or a soft answer: «Maybe we could share.».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: As a noun, a maybe is an answer that is neither yes nor no.↗ Example: Maybe he has 20 marbles.↗ · Maybe it will rain, so take your umbrella.↗ · Is it maybe 5 or 6?↗ Check both.↗ · Maybe we could play tag after lunch.↗ · "Can we get a puppy?" "↗ Maybe, we'll see."↗ · Maybe the plant needs more light, so let's test it.↗ · Maybe the dragon was not asleep after all.↗ · Her answer was a maybe, not a yes.↗ · "Maybe you'd win," said the bocough.↗

mayday — Everyday, meaning 1: The international radio call for help used by ships and aircraft in great danger, said three times.↗ e.g. "Mayday, mayday, mayday".↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal) Any urgent call for help.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: May Day (two words, capital letters) is a different thing: the first day of May, a spring festival and a workers' holiday.↗ Example: "Mayday, mayday, mayday!↗ Our engine is on fire!" shouted the pilot.↗ · The fishing boat sent a mayday when it began to sink.↗ · The coastguard answered the mayday call within seconds.↗ · Never say "mayday" on a radio as a joke.↗ · My sister's text was a total mayday: "Help, I forgot my homework!"↗ · In the film, the captain put out a mayday before the storm hit.↗ · On May Day we danced round a maypole at school.↗

mayest — Early Modern English, meaning 1: May; be allowed to; might.↗ Example: And she said: 'What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?'↗ (Torah GEN.38.16, JPS 1917) · “And that thou mayest be cast out of another pack.↗ (The Jungle Book) · And the LORD God commanded the man, saying: 'Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat;↗ (Torah GEN.2.16, JPS 1917)

mayflower — Everyday, meaning 1: The Mayflower was the ship that carried English settlers, now called the Pilgrims, across the Atlantic from Plymouth in England to America, where they started Plymouth Colony.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A mayflower is any of several plants that flower in spring, especially hawthorn in Britain and the trailing arbutus in North America.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: The mayflower is the floral symbol of Nova Scotia in Canada and of Massachusetts in the USA.↗ Example: The Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, England.↗ · About one hundred passengers crossed the ocean on the Mayflower.↗ · The Pilgrims on the Mayflower landed in what is now Massachusetts.↗ · The Wampanoag people helped the settlers after the Mayflower arrived.↗ · The mayflower is the provincial flower of Nova Scotia.↗ · The hedges were white with mayflower blossom.↗ · We made a model of the Mayflower in class.↗

mayfly — Everyday, meaning 1: A delicate insect with see-through wings and long tails that lives for years as a young nymph in water but, as a flying adult, often lives only a day or less.↗ Example: The mayfly lives under water for a year but flies for only one day.↗ · We found mayfly nymphs in the stream, so the water was clean.↗ · Adult mayflies cannot eat because they have no working mouths.↗ · Thousands of mayflies danced above the lake at sunset.↗ · Trout love to eat mayflies.↗ · Her interest in chess was like a mayfly: gone by the next day.↗

mayhap — Everyday, meaning 1: Mayhap means perhaps or maybe; it is an old word for a guess about what may happen.↗ Example: Mayhap thou wilt do so, said she.↗ · Mayhap under the stones you will find a treasure.↗ · Mayhap it will save them from danger.↗

mayo — Everyday, meaning 1: (informal) Short for mayonnaise: a thick, creamy white sauce made from egg yolks, oil and lemon juice or vinegar, eaten with chips, sandwiches and salads.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (a place) Mayo is a county in the west of Ireland, known for its coast, mountains and Gaelic football.↗ Example: Can I have mayo on my chips?↗ · A chicken mayo sandwich is my favourite.↗ · Mayo is made from eggs and oil.↗ · Keep the mayo in the fridge after opening it.↗ · In the Netherlands and Belgium, people often eat chips with mayo.↗ · Our cousins live in County Mayo, in the west of Ireland.↗ · Mayo play Gaelic football in green and red.↗ · I like mayo, but my sister prefers ketchup.↗ · There was once a boy in the County Mayo; Guleesh was his name.↗

mayonnaise — Everyday, meaning 1: Mayonnaise is a thick, creamy, pale yellow sauce made from egg yolks, oil and lemon juice or vinegar, eaten cold in sandwiches, on chips and in salads.↗ Example: Can I have mayonnaise in my chicken sandwich?↗ · In the Netherlands, people eat chips with mayonnaise.↗ · Egg mayonnaise is a classic picnic sandwich.↗ · Keep the mayonnaise in the fridge.↗ · Mayonnaise is made by slowly whisking oil into egg yolks.↗ · Dad likes a big dollop of mayo on his burger.↗ · Coleslaw has mayonnaise mixed through it.↗

mayor — Everyday, meaning 1: The leader of a town or city council, chosen to run the town or to represent it.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The Lord Mayor (UK): the mayor of some big cities like London or Dublin, often a ceremonial job.↗ Example: The mayor opened the new playground.↗ · Who is the mayor of our town?↗ · She ran for mayor and won.↗ · The mayor wears a gold chain at special events.↗ · We wrote a letter to the mayor about the broken swings.↗ · The mayor gave a speech at the parade.↗ · The mayor stood at the open window.↗

mayoress — Everyday, meaning 1: A mayoress is the wife of a mayor, who often attends town events beside him.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (old use) A mayoress can also be a woman who holds the office of mayor.↗ Example: The mayoress opened the autumn fair.↗ · The mayoress wore a gold chain at the feast.↗ · Everyone bowed when the mayoress came in.↗

maypole — Everyday, meaning 1: A maypole is a tall pole decorated with flowers and ribbons, which people dance around on May Day.↗ Example: We danced round the maypole in the village.↗ · The maypole was covered in bright ribbons.↗ · The children held the ribbons and skipped around the maypole.↗

mayst — Early Modern English, meaning 1: May; be allowed to; might.↗ Example: Of course thou mayst," said he.↗ (Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales) · "Thou mayst as well go home then," said Oh, "but thy son shall live with me yet another year."↗ So the man went away, sad at heart.↗ (Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales) · Are there no barns outside where thou mayst put it up?"--"Hold your tongues, ye accursed wretches!" replied the man; "what has it got to do with you?↗ (Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales)

maze — Everyday, meaning 1: A maze is a puzzle made of paths or passages with walls or hedges, where you have to find the way through without getting lost.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A maze is a puzzle drawn on paper where you trace a line from the start to the finish.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A maze can be any confusing place or set of things: a maze of streets, a maze of rules.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Mazed means dazed or confused, as if you have lost your way in a maze.↗ Example: We got lost in the hedge maze for half an hour.↗ · Draw a line through the maze to help the mouse find the cheese.↗ · We programmed the robot to get through the maze.↗ · The old town was a maze of narrow streets.↗ · The corn maze at the farm had a scarecrow in the middle.↗ · If you keep your hand on one wall, you may find your way out of the maze.↗ · The Minotaur lived in a maze called the labyrinth.↗ · Filling in the form felt like a maze of questions.↗ · Mazed with fear he struggled on toward the flickering light that looked like help and safety.↗