| / English Dictionary |
SUPERIOR
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A character or symbol set or printed or written above and immediately to one side of another character
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("superior" is a kind of...):
character; graph; grapheme; graphic symbol (a written symbol that is used to represent speech)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A town in northwest Wisconsin on Lake Superior across from Duluth
Classified under:
Nouns denoting spatial position
Instance hypernyms:
town (an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city)
Holonyms ("Superior" is a part of...):
Badger State; WI; Wis.; Wisc.; Wisconsin (a midwestern state in north central United States)
Sense 3
Meaning:
The largest freshwater lake in the world; the deepest of the Great Lakes
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)
Instance hypernyms:
lake (a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land)
Holonyms ("Superior" is a part of...):
Great Lakes (a group of five large, interconnected lakes in central North America)
Sense 4
Meaning:
The head of a religious community
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("superior" is a kind of...):
religious (a member of a religious order who is bound by vows of poverty and chastity and obedience)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "superior"):
abbess; mother superior; prioress (the superior of a group of nuns)
abbot; archimandrite (the superior of an abbey of monks)
prior (the head of a religious order; in an abbey the prior is next below the abbot)
Sense 5
Meaning:
One of greater rank or station or quality
Synonyms:
higher-up; superior; superordinate
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Hypernyms ("superior" is a kind of...):
leader (a person who rules or guides or inspires others)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "superior"):
better (a superior person having claim to precedence)
god (a man of such superior qualities that he seems like a deity to other people)
supervisor (one who supervises or has charge and direction of)
Antonym:
inferior (one of lesser rank or station or quality)
Sense 6
Meaning:
A combatant who is able to defeat rivals
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Hypernyms ("superior" is a kind of...):
battler; belligerent; combatant; fighter; scrapper (someone who fights (or is fighting))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "superior"):
conqueror; vanquisher (someone who is victorious by force of arms)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
(often followed by 'to') above being affected or influenced by
Example:
an ignited firework proceeds superior to circumstances until its blazing vitality fades
Classified under:
Similar:
unaffected (undergoing no change when acted upon)
Sense 2
Meaning:
(sometimes followed by 'to') not subject to or influenced by
Example:
trust magnates who felt themselves superior to law
Classified under:
Similar:
dominant (exercising influence or control)
Derivation:
superiority (the state of excelling or surpassing or going beyond usual limits)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Having a higher rank
Example:
superior officer
Synonyms:
higher-ranking; ranking; superior
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
senior (older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service)
Derivation:
superiority (the quality of being at a competitive advantage)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Of or characteristic of high rank or importance
Example:
a superior ruler
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
upper (superior in rank or accomplishment)
superordinate (of higher rank or status or value)
majestic; olympian (majestic in manner or bearing; superior to mundane matters)
high-level; high-ranking; upper-level (at an elevated level in rank or importance)
leading; preeminent (greatest in importance or degree or significance or achievement)
eminent; high (standing above others in quality or position)
arch; condescending; patronising; patronizing ((used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension)
Also:
high (greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount)
dominant (exercising influence or control)
Antonym:
inferior (of or characteristic of low rank or importance)
Derivation:
superiority (the quality of being at a competitive advantage)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Of high or superior quality or performance
Example:
superior math students
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
high-performance (modified to give superior performance)
outstanding (distinguished from others in excellence)
classic (considered of the highest quality and lasting significance or worth)
out of the ordinary; out of this world (exceptionally or unusually good)
premium (having or reflecting superior quality or value)
pucka; pukka (absolutely first class and genuine)
shining (marked by exceptional merit)
spiffing (excellent or splendid)
supreme (highest in excellence or achievement)
top-flight; top-hole; topping (excellent; best possible)
surpassing; transcendent (exceeding or surpassing usual limits especially in excellence)
weapons-grade (of a quality adequate for use in weapons (especially in weapons of mass destruction))
greatest; sterling; superlative (highest in quality)
gilt-edged (of the highest quality or value)
excellent; fantabulous; first-class; ripping; splendid (very good; of the highest quality)
choice; prime; prize; quality; select (of superior grade)
capital (first-rate)
brilliant; superb (of surpassing excellence)
boss; brag (exceptionally good)
blue-ribbon; select (selected or chosen for special qualifications)
banner (unusually good; outstanding)
A-one; ace; crack; first-rate; super; tiptop; top-notch; topnotch; tops (of the highest quality)
well-made (skillfully constructed)
Also:
best ((superlative of 'good') having the most positive qualities)
Attribute:
caliber; calibre; quality (a degree or grade of excellence or worth)
Antonym:
inferior (of low or inferior quality)
Derivation:
superiority (the quality of being superior)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Having an orbit farther from the sun than the Earth's orbit
Example:
Mars and Jupiter are the closest in of the superior planets
Classified under:
Adjectives
Domain category:
astronomy; uranology (the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole)
Antonym:
inferior (having an orbit between the sun and the Earth's orbit)
Sense 7
Meaning:
Written or printed above and to one side of another character
Synonyms:
superior; superscript
Classified under:
Adjectives
Domain category:
printing; printing process (reproduction by applying ink to paper as for publication)
Context examples:
The tissue could provide a superior model for studying normal brain function as well as injury and disease, and could assist in the development of new treatments for brain dysfunction.
(Bioengineers create functional 3D brain-like tissue, NIH)
During the task, the researchers recorded signals from the superior colliculi on both the right and left sides of the monkey’s brain at the same time.
(Researchers discover neural code that predicts behavior, National Institutes of Health)
It shows us that a man with will may rise superior to his environment.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
For clinical purposes this term is also used to refer to the whole superior limb.
(Arm, NCI Thesaurus)
Representative examples include the superior and inferior paraaortic and bladder paragangliomas.
(Extra-Adrenal Sympathetic Paraganglioma, NCI Thesaurus)
"Much you know about it, ma'am," said Laurie in a superior tone.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Weedon Scott smiled with a superior air, gained his feet, and walked over to White Fang.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
The model is frequently utilized to design clinical treatments that are superior to conventional therapies.
(Norton-Simon Model, NCI Thesaurus)
Could it have been an official superior who took the papers?
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
It was the desire of appearing superior to other people.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
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