elite

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.

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

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e·lite adj.

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elite [ill-eet]

Noun

the most powerful, rich, or gifted members of a group or community [French]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	elite - a group or class of persons enjoying superior intellectual or social or economic status elite group 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" elect selected - chosen in preference to another

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elite

noun 1. aristocracy, best, pick, elect, cream, upper class, nobility, gentry, high society, crème de la crème (French) flower, nonpareil << OPPOSITE rabble

adjective 2. leading, best, finest, pick, choice, selected, elect, crack (slang) supreme, exclusive, privileged, first-class, foremost, first-rate, pre-eminent, most excellent

Translations

elite [eɪˈliːt] n → élite f