constraints
English meaning: Constraints
Definition
Something that constrains; a restriction.
Example
“Tight budget constraints forced the team to scrap several plans.”
Another example: “Working within these constraints, the engineers still found a clever solution.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Plural of 'constraint': limitations or restrictions on freedom of action ('budget constraints', 'time constraints'). Neutral to formal register; also a technical term in maths and computing (constraint satisfaction).
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old French 'constreinte', from 'constreindre', from Latin 'constringere' (to bind tightly), from 'com-' (together) plus 'stringere' (to draw tight); 14th century.
Synonyms
- restrictions
- limitations
- limits
- restraints
- curbs
Antonyms / Opposites
- freedoms
- liberties
Related Words
- constraint
- optimization
- imposed
- variables
- satisfied
- solving
- solved
- optimal
- satisfy
- parameters
Common Collocations
- budget constraints
- time constraints
- financial constraints
- operate within constraints
- impose constraints
- resource constraints
Word Forms
constrain (v); constrained; constraining; constraint (n); constraints (pl)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B