super

[ soo-per ]
See synonyms for super on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Informal.

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

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

  2. Printing. supercalendered paper.

  3. 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
  1. of the highest degree, power, etc.

  2. of an extreme or excessive degree.

  1. Informal. very good; first-rate; excellent.

  2. (of measurement) superficial.

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

Origin of super

1
First recorded in 1620–30; 1920–25 for def. 8; independent use of super- (construed as an adjective or adverb), or shortening of words prefixed with it

Other definitions for super- (2 of 3)

super-

  1. 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-

2
<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

Other definitions for super. (3 of 3)

super.

abbreviation
  1. superintendent.

  2. superior.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use super in a sentence

  • Not only did he provide sub-octave and super-octave couplers freely, but he even added a Swell Sub-quint to Great coupler!

  • This circumstance alone, ought to be strong evidence, even to a skeptic, of its super-human origin.

    Gospel Philosophy | J. H. Ward
  • His eyes were sighting along an instrument of his own devising as if he were aiming some super-gun of a great air cruiser.

  • Lords not only ought to be gentlefolk, and be fed and waited upon and live in affluent idleness, but super-gentlefolk.

  • It was more ferocious than the merely brutal glare of a tiger; it was an intentional malignity, super-beastly and sub-human.

    Overland | John William De Forest

British Dictionary definitions for super (1 of 2)

super

/ (ˈsuːpə) /


adjective
  1. informal outstanding; exceptionally fine

noun
  1. petrol with a high octane rating

  2. informal a superintendent or supervisor

  1. Australian and NZ informal superannuation benefits

  2. Australian and NZ informal superphosphate

interjection
  1. British informal an enthusiastic expression of approval or assent

Origin of super

1
from Latin: above

British Dictionary definitions for super- (2 of 2)

super-

prefix
  1. placed above or over: superscript

  2. of greater size, extent, quality, etc: supermarket

  1. surpassing others; outstanding: superstar

  2. beyond a standard or norm; exceeding or exceedingly: supersonic

  3. indicating that a chemical compound contains a specified element in a higher proportion than usual: superoxide

Origin of super-

2
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