English Lexicon

Select

/sɪˈlɛkt/
verbadjectiveCEFR B1 (Intermediate)Top #800 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb
  1. 1

    To carefully choose as being the best or most suitable.

    "She decided to select the best candidates for the job."
As adjective
  1. 1

    Chosen for special qualities; exclusive.

    "He belongs to a select group of scholars."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Synonyms (3)
Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'select' originates from the Latin 'selectus', the past participle of 'seligere', meaning 'to choose'. It entered Middle English through Old French in the late 14th century, evolving to denote the act of making a choice or picking out from a group.

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