Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - worst

~1 adj (the superlative of bad) 1 only before noun worse than anything else of the same kind or worse than at any time before  (Ken is easily the worst player in the team. | What's the worst thing that could happen? | by far the worst)  (This is by far the worst book she's written.) 2 be your own worst enemy to continue to behave in a stupid or thoughtless way that harms you or stops you from becoming successful 3 come off worst to lose a fight or argument ~2 n 1 the worst the person, thing, situation, state, part etc that is worse than all others of the same kind or worse than at any time before  (None of them can play well, but Jane is the worst. | the worst of it (=the worst part of something))  (I think we've done the worst of it. | The worst of it is, I can't let her know what's happening. | get/have the worst of it spoken (=lose a fight or argument) | expect/fear the worst (=expect the situation to have the worst possible result))  (England play Brazil next week and I fear the worst. | at his/its etc worst (=as bad as he or it can be))  (You saw the garden at its worst, I'm afraid.) 2 at (the) worst if things are as bad as they can be  (Choosing the right software can be time-consuming at best and confusing or frustrating at worst.) 3 sb/sth can do their worst used to say that you are not worried by the power of someone or something to harm you  (All the wheat has been harvested, so the storm can do its worst.) 4 if the worst comes to the worst if the situation develops in the worst possible way  (If the worst comes to the worst, we'll have to sell the car.) ~3 adv (the superlative of badly) most badly  (Aid is being sent to the worst affected areas. | the worst-dressed man in the office) ~4 v T usually passive old-fashioned to defeat someone in a fight, competition, or argument