Learn English – What’s the meaning of “at least as important are …” in the following sentence

phrase-meaningsentence-meaning

Changes in the geometric properties of the joint with wear occur slowly for a lower pair. At least as important are the simple geometries of the relative motions that these joints permit.

I don't understand the last sentence.

Best Answer

In that sentence, "at least as important as" compares:

  • changes (in the geometric properties...)

with

  • (simple) geometries.

The meaning is that the geometries:

  • have the same importance as the changes;

or:

  • have more importance than the changes;

but not:

  • have less importance than the changes.

From the Cambridge Dictionary

at least = as much as, or more than, a number or amount:

  • It will cost at least $100.
  • It will be £200 at the very least.
  • You'll have to wait at least an hour.

and:

Also from Cambridge Dictionary

As … as = We use as + adjective/adverb + as to make comparisons when the things we are comparing are equal in some way:

  • The world’s biggest bull is as big as a small elephant.
  • The weather this summer is as bad as last year. It hasn’t stopped raining for weeks.
  • You have to unwrap it as carefully as you can. It’s quite fragile.
Related Topic