elite

1a singular or plural in construction :  the choice part :  cream the elite of the entertainment worldb singular or plural in construction :  the best of a class superachievers who dominate the computer elite — Marilyn Chasec singular or plural in construction :  the socially superior part of society how the French-speaking elite … was changing — Economistd :  a group of persons who by virtue of position or education exercise much power or influence members of the ruling elitee :  a member of such an elite —usually used in plural the elites …  , pursuing their studies in Europe — Robert Wernick

2 :  a typewriter type providing 12 characters to the linear inch