English Dictionary

Definition of “class”

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class (klɑːsPronunciation for class) 

Definitions

noun

  1. a collection or division of people or things sharing a common characteristic, attribute, quality, or property
  2. a group of persons sharing a similar social position and certain economic, political, and cultural characteristics
  3. (in Marxist theory) a group of persons sharing the same relationship to the means of production
    1. the pattern of divisions that exist within a society on the basis of rank, economic status, etc
    2. ((as modifier)  ⇒ the class struggle class distinctions 
    1. a group of pupils or students who are taught and study together
    2. a meeting of a group of students for tuition
  6. mainly US a group of students who graduated in a specified year  ⇒ the class of '53 
  7. (in combination and as modifier) British a grade of attainment in a university honours degree  ⇒ second-class honours 
  8. one of several standards of accommodation in public transport See also first class , second class , third class
    1. informal excellence or elegance, esp in dress, design, or behaviour  ⇒ that girl's got class 
    2. ((as modifier)  ⇒ a class act 
    1. outstanding speed and stamina in a racehorse
    2. ((as modifier)  ⇒ the class horse in the race 
  11. biology any of the taxonomic groups into which a phylum is divided and which contains one or more orders. any of the taxonomic groups into which a phylum is divided and which contains one or more orders. Amphibia, Reptilia,  and any of the taxonomic groups into which a phylum is divided and which contains one or more orders. and Mammalia  are three classes of phylum any of the taxonomic groups into which a phylum is divided and which contains one or more orders. and are three classes of phylum Chordata
  12. mathematics logic 
    1. another name for set2 (sense 3)
    2. See proper class
  13. See in a class of its own

verb

  1. to have or assign a place within a group, grade, or class

Alternative Forms

ˈclassable adjective ˈclasser noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin classis  class, rank, fleet; related to Latin calāre to summon

Quotations

  • "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles" Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
  • "There are but two families in the world as my grandmother used to say, the Haves and the Have-nots" Miguel de Cervantes
  • "The rich man in his castle,The poor man at his gate,God made them, high or lowly,And ordered their estate" Cecil Frances Alexander

Translations

  • British English: class Pronunciation for class A class is a group of pupils or students who are taught together.He spent six months in a class with younger students.klɑːs NOUN He spent six months in a class with younger students.
  • Spanish: clase Pronunciation for clase nm
  • French: classe Pronunciation for classe nf
  • German: Klasse Pronunciation for Klasse nf
  • Chinese: 年级Pronunciation for 年级 n
  • Arabic: فَصْل مَدْرَسِيّPronunciation for فَصْل مَدْرَسِيّ n
  • Portuguese: classePronunciation for classe nf
  • Russian: классPronunciation for класс nm
  • Croatian: razredPronunciation for razred nm
  • Czech: třídaPronunciation for třída nf
  • Danish: klassePronunciation for klasse nutr
  • Dutch: klassePronunciation for klasse nf
  • Finnish: luokkaPronunciation for luokka n
  • Greek: τάξηPronunciation for τάξη nf
  • Italian: classePronunciation for classe nf
  • Japanese: 分類Pronunciation for 分類 n
  • Korean: 계급Pronunciation for 계급 n
  • Norwegian: klassePronunciation for klasse nm
  • Polish: klasaPronunciation for klasa nf
  • Brazilian Portuguese: classePronunciation for classe nf
  • European Spanish: clase Pronunciation for clase nm
  • Swedish: klassPronunciation for klass nutr
  • Thai: ชั้นเรียนPronunciation for ชั้นเรียน n
  • Turkish: sınıfPronunciation for sınıf n
  • Vietnamese: giai cấpPronunciation for giai cấp n

Usage examples

  • There was a card from Henry, still in the Gulf, and a reminder about the new kick-boxing class.
    Isabel Wolff, RESCUING ROSE (2002)
  • His work ranged from exquisitely carved reliefs to dramatic neoclassical compositions'of the epic class ' that pushed marble to its limits.
    Country Life (2005)
  • A second No to Nice by default would be as disastrous for the Irish political class as this result has been for the French.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • His keen intelligence and determination powered him to the top of the mandarin class.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • It was a Young 12 class - a plump, relatively lightweight design that was renowned for its downwind speed.
    Rob Mundle, FATAL STORM (2001)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'C'

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