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elite

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.02 sec.
e·lite or é·lite  (-lt, -lt)
n. pl. elite or e·lites
1.
a. A group or class of persons or a member of such a group or class, enjoying superior intellectual, social, or economic status: "In addition to notions of social equality there was much emphasis on the role of elites and of heroes within them" (Times Literary Supplement).
b. The best or most skilled members of a group: the football team's elite.
2. A size of type on a typewriter, equal to 12 characters per linear inch.

[French élite, from Old French eslite, from feminine past participle of eslire, to choose, from Latin ligere; see elect.]

e·lite adj.

elite, élite [ɪˈliːt eɪ-]
n
1. (sometimes functioning as plural) the most powerful, rich, gifted, or educated members of a group, community, etc.
2. (Communication Arts / Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) Also called twelve pitch a typewriter typesize having 12 characters to the inch
adj
of, relating to, or suitable for an elite; exclusive
[from French, from Old French eslit chosen, from eslire to choose, from Latin ēligere to elect]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.elite - a group or class of persons enjoying superior intellectual or social or economic status
upper class, upper crust - the class occupying the highest position in the social hierarchy
elect, chosen - an exclusive group of people; "one of the elect who have power inside the government"
cream, pick - the best people or things in a group; "the cream of England's young men were killed in the Great War"
clerisy, intelligentsia - an educated and intellectual elite
beau monde, bon ton, high society, smart set, society - the fashionable elite
few - a small elite group; "it was designed for the discriminating few"
aristocracy, nobility - a privileged class holding hereditary titles
technocrat - an expert who is a member of a highly skilled elite group
Adj.1.elite - selected as the best; "an elect circle of artists"; "elite colleges"
selected - chosen in preference to another

elite
noun
aristocracy, best, pick, elect, cream, upper class, nobility, gentry, high society, crème de la crème (French), flower, nonpareil a government comprised mainly of the elite
aristocracy rabble, dregs, hoi polloi, riffraff
adjective
leading, best, finest, pick, choice, selected, elect, crack (slang), supreme, exclusive, privileged, first-class, foremost, first-rate, pre-eminent, most excellent the elite troops of the President's bodyguard
Translations
elite élite [eɪˈliːt]
A. Nélite f
B. CPD [group, unit, force] → de élite; [school, university] → de élite, exclusivo
elite élite [ɪˈliːt]
adj [group] → d'élite; [athlete, player, team] → d'élite; [troops] → d'élite; [institution] → prestigieux/euse
n
the elite → l'élite f
the political elite → l'élite politique
the ruling elite → l'élite dirigeante
elite
n (often pej)Elite f
adjElite-; elite groupElitegruppe f, → Elite f; elite unitEliteeinheit f; elite forceElitetruppe f; elite troopsElitetruppen pl; an elite group of scholarseine Elite der Gelehrten


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I discovered, in the course of the conversation, that they were the daughters of a gentleman of very large estate, and belonged to the true elite of the country.
No, it should not be said that he, the selected escort of the elite of Devil's Ford, had to fill himself up with whiskey before they started.
He remembered that you have to prove you don't know you have it before you are eligible for Pop [an elite social club at Eton].
 
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