Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Language: French
Origin: idéal, from Late Latin idealis, from Latin idea; IDEA

ideal

1 adjective
     
i‧deal1 S2 W2
1 the best or most suitable that something could possibly be:
advice on how to reach your ideal weight
The scheme offers an ideal opportunity for youngsters to get training.
With so much rain, conditions are far from ideal.
ideal for
An elastic waist makes these jeans ideal for the larger woman.
an ideal place for a walk
2 [only before noun] an ideal world, job, system etc is one that you imagine to be perfect, but that is not likely to really exist:
In an ideal world there would be no need for a police force.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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