(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If one thing or person is ~ to another, the first is better than the second.
We have a relationship infinitely ~ to those of many of our friends...
Long-term stock market investments have produced ~ returns compared with cash deposits.
? inferior
ADJ: oft ADJ to n
~ity
The technical ~ity of laser discs over tape is well established.
N-UNCOUNT: oft N over/to n
2.
If you describe something as ~, you mean that it is good, and better than other things of the same kind.
A few years ago it was virtually impossible to find ~ quality coffee in local shops...
Lulu was said to be of very ~ intelligence.
ADJ
3.
A ~ person or thing is more important than another person or thing in the same organization or system.
...negotiations between the mutineers and their ~ officers...
ADJ: oft ADJ to n
4.
Your ~ in an organization that you work for is a person who has a higher rank than you.
Other army units are completely surrounded and cut-off from communication with their ~s...
? subordinate
N-COUNT: poss N
5.
If you describe someone as ~, you disapprove of them because they behave as if they are better, more important, or more intelligent than other people.
Finch gave a ~ smile...
ADJ disapproval
~ity
...a false sense of his ~ity over mere journalists.
N-UNCOUNT: oft N over n
6.
If one group of people has ~ numbers to another group, the first has more people than the second, and therefore has an advantage over it. (FORMAL)
The demonstrators fled when they saw the authorities’ ~ numbers...
ADJ