optimizationn.
/ˌɒptᵻmʌɪˈzeɪʃn/, U.S. /ˌɑptəməˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/, /ˌɑptəˌmaɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/ rare before mid 20th cent.
The action or process of making the best of something; (also) the action or process of rendering optimal; the state or condition of being optimal.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > [noun] > turning to account
exploiting1538
improvement?1611
exploitation1795
optimization1857
exploitage1864
exploiture1874
optimizing1877
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being the best > [noun] > for end result > action of making
optimization1857
optimalization1950
1857 L. Hunt Let. to Browning in Athenæum (1883) 7 July 17/1 Wisdom, you know, is the optimization of knowledge, the turning it to its best and therefore least sad account.
1949 Jrnl. Philos. 46 595 Providence is not the prevention of chance, but its optimization.
1959 Times Rev. Industry June 39/2 Optimization problems (e.g. minimization of costs or maximization of profits).
1976 Daily Times (Lagos) 22 Sept. 3/3 The socio-economic development of any nation depended on the optimisation and maximisation of land use.
2000 Weekend Austral. 21 Oct. (Suppl.) 15/8 Optimisation has become a very important tool for industrial and business management for improving the efficiency of their operations.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1857