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¹select

adjective se·lect \sə-ˈlekt\

: chosen from a group to include the best people or things

: of the highest quality

Full Definition of SELECT

: chosen from a number or group by fitness or preference

a : of special value or excellence : superior, choice

b : exclusively or fastidiously chosen often with regard to social, economic, or cultural characteristics

: judicious or restrictive in choice : discriminating <pleased with the select appreciation of his books — Osbert Sitwell>

— se·lect·able \sə-ˈlek-tə-bəl\ adjective

— se·lect·ness \sə-ˈlek(t)-nəs\ noun

— se·lec·tor \sə-ˈlek-tər\ noun

See select defined for English-language learners

See select defined for kids

Origin of SELECT

Latin selectus, past participle of seligere to select, from se- apart (from sed, se without) + legere to gather, select — more at suicide, legend

First Known Use: circa 1555

Related to SELECT

Synonyms: cherry-picked, choice, chosen, elect, favored, favorite, first-line, handpicked, picked, preferred, selected, of choice

Rhymes with SELECT

abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked

²select

verb

: to choose (someone or something) from a group

computers : to choose (a particular action, section of text, etc.) especially by using a mouse

Full Definition of SELECT

transitive verb

: to choose (as by fitness or excellence) from a number or group : pick out

intransitive verb

: to make a choice

See select defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of SELECT

1566

Related to SELECT

Synonyms: cherry-pick, cull, elect, handpick, name, opt (for), pick, prefer, choose, single (out), tag, take

Antonyms: decline, refuse, reject, turn down

³select

noun

Definition of SELECT

: one that is select —often used in plural

First Known Use of SELECT

1610

SELECTOR Defined for Kids

¹select

verb se·lect \sə-ˈlekt\

se·lect·edse·lect·ing

Definition of SELECT for Kids

: to pick out from a group <I selected a ripe peach.>

²select

adjective

Definition of SELECT for Kids

: chosen to include the best or most suitable individuals <select committees> <Select students participated in the program.>

: of special value or excellence <a select hotel>

Medical Dictionary

select

intransitive verb se·lect \sə-ˈlekt\

Medical Definition of SELECT

: to cause a specified gene, trait, or organism to become more frequent or less frequent—usually used with for or against <animal breeders need to select simultaneously for improved conformity to breed characteristics and against defective genes causing disease>