select

¹se·lect

adj \sə-ˈlekt\

Definition of SELECT

1

: chosen from a number or group by fitness or preference

2

a : of special value or excellence : superior, choice b : exclusively or fastidiously chosen often with regard to social, economic, or cultural characteristics

3

: 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

Examples of SELECT

1. Only a few select employees attended the meeting.
2. A select committee was formed to plan the project.
3. The group was small and select.
4. A select number of people are invited.
5. Only a select few will be accepted into the program.
6. He only drinks select wines.

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

Related Words: fashionable; exclusive; culled, picked over, screened, weeded (out), winnowed (out)

Near Antonyms: average, common, commonplace, ordinary, run-of-the-mill

see all synonyms and antonyms

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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