class

[[t]klæs, klɑs[/t]]

n.

1) a number of persons or things regarded as belonging together because of common attributes, qualities, or traits; kind; sort

2) edu

a) a group of students meeting regularly to study a subject under the guidance of a teacher

b) the period in which they meet

c) a meeting of such a group

d) a classroom

3) edu a group of students ranked together or graduated in the same year:

the class of '92[/ex]

4) soc a social stratum sharing basic economic, political, or cultural characteristics, and having the same social position:

the blue-collar class[/ex]

5) the system of dividing society; caste

6) social rank, esp. high rank

7) the members of a given group in society, regarded as a single entity:

the academic class[/ex]

8) any division of persons or things according to rank or grade:

a hotel of the highest class[/ex]

9) inf Informal. elegance, grace, or dignity, as in dress and behavior

10) any of several grades of accommodations available on ships, airplanes, and the like

11) bio the usual major subdivision of a phylum or division in the classification of organisms, usu. consisting of several orders

12) gram.

form class

13) math. Math. a set; a collection

14) cvb Informal. of high quality, rank, or grade:

a class act; a class performer[/ex]

15) to place or arrange in a class; classify:

to class doctors with lawyers[/ex]

16) to take or have a place in a particular class:

those who class as believers[/ex]

•

- in a class by itself or oneself

Etymology: 1590–1600; earlier classis, pl. classes < L: class, division, fleet, army class′a•ble, adj. class′er, n. usage: See collective noun