Definition
A maximal compact subgroup is a maximal subgroup amongst proper compact subgroups – a maximal (compact subgroup) – rather than being (alternate possible reading) a maximal subgroup that happens to be compact; which would probably be called a compact (maximal subgroup), but in any case is not the intended meaning (and in fact maximal proper subgroups are not in general compact).
Read more about this topic: Maximal Compact Subgroup
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