n. (pl. -ies)
1. the degree of excellence of a thing (of good quality; poor in quality).
2 a general excellence (their work has quality). b (attrib.) of high quality ( a quality product).
3 a distinctive attribute or faculty; a characteristic trait.
4 the relative nature or kind or character of a thing (is made in three qualities).
5 the distinctive timbre of a voice or sound.
6 archaic high social standing (people of quality).
7 Logic the property of a proposition's being affirmative or negative.
Phrases and idioms:
quality control a system of maintaining standards in manufactured products by testing a sample of the output against the specification.
Etymology: ME f. OF qualit{eacute} f. L qualitas -tatis f. qualis of what kind