elite

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e·lite

or é·lite (ĭ-lēt′, ā-lēt′)

n. pl. elite or e·lites or élite or é·lites

a. A group or class of persons considered to be superior to others because of their intelligence, social standing, or wealth: "Auguste Comte ... believed that in the age of science society should be ruled by an elite of scientists" (Lewis A. Coser).

b. A member of such a group: "Elites don't grant us [sociologists] interviews. They don't let us hang out at their country clubs" (Sudhir Venkatesh).

c. The best or most skilled members of a group: the elite of professional tennis.

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 ēligere; see elect.]

e·lite′ adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

elite

(ɪˈliːt; eɪ-) or

élite

1. (sometimes functioning as plural) the most powerful, rich, gifted, or educated members of a group, community, etc

2. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) Also called: twelve pitch a typewriter type size having 12 characters to the inch

adj

of, relating to, or suitable for an elite; exclusive

[C18: from French, from Old French eslit chosen, from eslire to choose, from Latin ēligere to elect]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

e•lite

or é•lite

(ɪˈlit, eɪˈlit)

n.

1. (often used with a pl. v.) the choice or best of a group, class, or the like.

2. (used with a pl. v.) persons of the wealthiest class.

3. a group of persons exercising authority within a larger group.

4. a 10-point type widely used in typewriters and having 12 characters to the inch. Compare pica ¹.

adj.

5. of the best or most select.

[1350–1400; Middle English elit a person elected to office < Middle French e(s)lit past participle of e(s)lire to choose < Vulgar Latin *exlegere, for Latin ēligere; see elect]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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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

elite

noun

1. 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

1. 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

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

elite

or élite
noun

1. People of the highest social level:

aristocracy, blue blood, crème de la crème, flower, gentility, gentry, nobility, patriciate, quality, society, upper class, who's who.

Informal: upper crust.

2. The superlative or most preferable part of something:

best, choice, cream, crème de la crème, flower, pick, prize, top.

Idioms: cream of the crop, flower of the flock, pick of the bunch.

adjective

Of high birth or social position:

aristocratic, blue-blooded, highborn, highbred, noble, patrician, thoroughbred, upper-class, wellborn.

Informal: upper-crust.

Translations

نُخْبَه، صَفْوَه

elita

elite

Elite elitär

elite élite

élite

elit

úrval; heldra fólk

elite élite lite

elite

элита

elita

seçkin sınıf

杰出人物

elite

élite [eɪˈliːt]

A. N → élite f

B. CPD [group, unit, force] → de élite; [school, university] → de élite, exclusivo

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

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

adj → Elite-; elite group → Elitegruppe f, → Elite f; elite unit → Eliteeinheit f; elite force → Elitetruppe f; elite troops → Elitetruppen pl; an elite group of scholars → eine Elite der Gelehrten

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

élite

[eɪˈliːt] n → élite f inv

élite

(eiˈliːt) , ((American) i-) noun

(with the) the best or most important people especially within society.

References in classic literature ?

Meeting my betrothed in an avenue thronged with the élite of the city, I was hastening to greet her with one of my best considered bows, when a small particle of some foreign matter, lodging in the corner of my eye, rendered me, for the moment, completely blind.