extreme

ex|treme1 [ ık`strim ] adjective **

1. ) only before noun very great in degree:

extreme poverty/hardship

Use extreme caution when driving in wet conditions.

Will the clothing give protection against extreme cold?

2. ) considered unreasonable by most people:

extreme right-wing views

an extreme liberal

Their demands were seen as being too extreme.

It seemed a little extreme to call the police.

3. ) very unusual: EXCEPTIONAL:

an extreme case: In extreme cases, your membership may be canceled.

an extreme example (of something): This city's problems offer an extreme example of the difficulties faced by the country as a whole.

a ) much more severe or serious than usual:

The police were accused of using extreme violence against the protesters.

4. ) only before noun farthest away:

the extreme end/edge/tip: The wooden buildings are situated at the extreme tip of the island.

the extreme left/right/north/south: The minister is on the extreme left of the picture.

extreme

ex|treme 2 [ ık`strim ] noun count *

1. ) an opinion or way of behaving that is as different from another as it is possible to be:

at the other/opposite extreme: Louise goes to the gym every day. At the other extreme, her husband gets absolutely no exercise at all.

from one extreme to the other: In terms of healthy eating I go from one extreme to the other.

between two extremes: The public's views on genetic engineering seem to range between two extremes.

2. ) usually plural a very large or very small degree of something:

extreme of: Extremes of temperature are not good for your skin.

The country still contains extremes of wealth and poverty.

go to extremes or take/carry something to extremes

to do something much more than is usual or reasonable:

This is political correctness taken to extremes.

in the extreme FORMAL

extremely: used for emphasizing what you are saying:

It is unlikely in the extreme that she will change her mind.