select
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
adjective
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chosen in preference to another or others; selected.
-
of special value or excellence; choice.
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careful or fastidious in selecting; discriminating.
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carefully or fastidiously chosen; exclusive.
a select group of friends.
verb
adjective
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Also: selected. chosen in preference to another or others
-
of particular quality or excellence
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limited as to membership or entry
a select gathering
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careful in making a choice
Related Words
See choose.
Other Word Forms
- nonselected adjective
- reselect verb (used with object)
- selectability noun
- selectable adjective
- selectly adverb
- selectness noun
- selector noun
- unselect adjective
- unselected adjective
- well-selected adjective
Etymology
Origin of select
First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin sēlēctus (past participle of sēligere “to gather apart”), equivalent to sē- “apart” + leg(ere) “to gather, choose” + -tus past participle suffix; lection ( def. ), se-
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Back in 1993, the bank published an assessment of the rapid economic growth achieved by some economies in east Asia, and which appeared to owe something to government interventions in support of selected industries.
One side displays adjuvant molecules arranged at carefully controlled nanometer distances, while the opposite side presents selected antigens such as peptides or proteins from tumors or pathogens.
From Science Daily
Psyche is the 14th mission selected under NASA's Discovery Program, managed by the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
From Science Daily
Iran appears to be allowing select ships through the Strait of Hormuz, freeing a trickle of oil and gas that has helped to keep a lid on global energy prices.
“Will you let her know that we’ve already selected some pieces to show her, ones we think would work nicely in the pavilion?”
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
