ultra

[ uhl-truh ]
See synonyms for: ultraultras on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. going beyond what is usual or ordinary; excessive; extreme.

noun
  1. an extremist, as in politics, religion, fashion, etc.

  2. Ultra, Military. the British code name for intelligence gathered by decrypting German wireless communications enciphered on the Enigma machine during World War II.

Origin of ultra

1
Independent use of ultra-, or shortening of words prefixed with it

Other definitions for ultra- (2 of 2)

ultra-

  1. a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, with the basic meaning “on the far side of, beyond.” In relation to the base to which it is prefixed, ultra- has the senses “located beyond, on the far side of” (ultramontane; ultraviolet), “carrying to the furthest degree possible, on the fringe of” (ultraleft; ultramodern), “extremely” (ultralight); nouns to which it is added denote, in general, objects, properties, phenomena, etc., that surpass customary norms, or instruments designed to produce or deal with such things (ultramicroscope; ultrasound; ultrastructure).

Origin of ultra-

2
From Latin ultrā (adverb and preposition) “on the far side,” derivative of ulter (unrecorded) “located beyond”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ultra in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ultra (1 of 2)

ultra

/ (ˈʌltrə) /


adjective
  1. extreme or immoderate, esp in beliefs or opinions

noun
  1. an extremist

Origin of ultra

1
C19: from Latin: beyond, from ulter distant

British Dictionary definitions for ultra- (2 of 2)

ultra-

prefix
  1. beyond or surpassing a specified extent, range, or limit: ultramicroscopic

  2. extreme or extremely: ultramodern

Origin of ultra-

2
from Latin ultrā beyond; see ultra

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012