super

[soo-per]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR super ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Informal.

a superintendent, especially of an apartment house.
supermarket.
supernumerary.
supervisor.

an article of a superior quality, grade, size, etc.

(in beekeeping) the portion of a hive in which honey is stored.

Printing. supercalendered paper.

Television. an additional image superimposed on the original video image: A super of the guest's name is included under the picture when the guest is introduced.

adjective

of the highest degree, power, etc.

of an extreme or excessive degree.

Informal. very good; first-rate; excellent.

(of measurement) superficial.

superfine.

adverb

Slang. very; extremely or excessively: super classy; a super large portion of food.

Origin of super

1620–30; 1920–25 for def 8; independent use of super- (construed as an adj. or adv.), or shortening of words prefixed with it

super-

a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, with the basic meaning “above, beyond.” Words formed with super- have the following general senses: “to place or be placed above or over” (superimpose; supersede), “a thing placed over or added to another” (superscript; superstructure; supertax), “situated over” (superficial; superlunary) and, more figuratively, “an individual, thing, or property that exceeds customary norms or levels” (superalloy; superconductivity; superman; superstar), “an individual or thing larger, more powerful, or with wider application than others of its kind” (supercomputer; superhighway; superpower; supertanker), “exceeding the norms or limits of a given class” (superhuman; superplastic), “having the specified property to a great or excessive degree” (supercritical; superfine; supersensitive), “to subject to (a physical process) to an extreme degree or in an unusual way” (supercharge; supercool; supersaturate), “a category that embraces a number of lesser items of the specified kind” (superfamily; supergalaxy), “a chemical compound with a higher proportion than usual of a given constituent” (superphosphate).

Origin of super-

< Latin super (preposition and v. prefix) above, beyond, in addition, to an especially high degree; akin to Greek hypér (see hyper-), Sanskrit upari; see over

super.

superintendent.

superior.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for super

sensational, great, outstanding, magnificent, topnotch, superb, terrific, marvelous, keen, divine, cool, smashing, glorious, groovy, hot, incomparable, matchless, neat, peerless, wonderful

Examples from the Web for super

Contemporary Examples of super

Further, in the Super Tuesday states of Florida, Texas, and Virginia, Paul is operating at a decided disadvantage.
GOP Won’t Forgive Rand for Cop Critique
Lloyd Green
December 23, 2014
But Goff called it “insulting” to suggest that he might be running a super PAC for personal gain.
‘Ready for Romney’ Is Amateur Hour
Tim Mak
December 23, 2014
The question is, do we need, or are we ready for, super high-end designer drawers for dudes?
Would You Pay $100 For a 50 Cent Bulge? Men’s Undies Get Expensive
James Joiner
December 23, 2014
In Romneyland, the super PAC is being met with real suspicion and skepticism.
‘Ready for Romney’ Is Amateur Hour
Tim Mak
December 23, 2014
The resulting Wool Runners were comfortable, eco-friendly, machine-washable, and super cute—and sold out almost immediately.
The Coolest Fashion Innovations of 2014
Raquel Laneri
December 18, 2014

Historical Examples of super

The nature they portray is not human, but super- or subter-human, which you will.
Another Sheaf
John Galsworthy
It was only then that he realized this must be a super mech.
Second Sight
Basil Eugene Wells
That night he had begged Janith to let him rent a super mech.
Second Sight
Basil Eugene Wells
He was fighting desperately, his super mech's strength overtaxed.
Second Sight
Basil Eugene Wells
He wanted to call to the super and ask if at least he could buy the lantern.
Joan of Arc of the North Woods
Holman Day

British Dictionary definitions for super

super

adjective

informal outstanding; exceptionally fine

noun

petrol with a high octane rating

informal a superintendent or supervisor

Australian and NZ informal superannuation benefits

Australian and NZ informal superphosphate

interjection

British informal an enthusiastic expression of approval or assent

Word Origin for super

from Latin: above

super-

prefix

placed above or oversuperscript

of greater size, extent, quality, etcsupermarket

surpassing others; outstandingsuperstar

beyond a standard or norm; exceeding or exceedinglysupersonic

indicating that a chemical compound contains a specified element in a higher proportion than usualsuperoxide

Word Origin for super-

from Latin super above

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for super

adj.

"first-rate, excellent," 1837, from prefix in superfine (1682), denoting "highest grade of goods," from Latin super "above, over, beyond" (see super-). Extended usage as a general term of approval is 1895 slang, revived 1960s. Rhyming reduplication form super-duper first attested 1940.

super-

word-forming element from Latin adverb and preposition super "above, over, on the top (of), beyond, besides, in addition to," from PIE *uper "over" (cf. Sanskrit upari, Avestan upairi "over, above, beyond," Greek hyper, Old English ofer "over," Gothic ufaro "over, across," Gaulish ver-, Old Irish for), comparative of root *upo "under."

super in Medicine

super-

pref.

Above; over; upon:superstructure.

Superior in size, quality, number, or degree:supersonic.

Exceeding a norm:supersaturate.

Excessive in degree or intensity:superexcitation.

Containing a specified ingredient in an unusually high proportion:superoxide.