n.
Pronunciation: ā - ' l ē t, i-, ē -
Function: noun
Etymology: French élite, from Old French eslite, from feminine of eslit, past participle of eslire to choose, from Latin eligere
Date: 1823
1 a singular or plural in construction : the choice part : CREAM <the elite of the entertainment world> b singular or plural in construction : the best of a class <superachievers who dominate the computer elite ― Marilyn Chase> c singular or plural in construction : the socially superior part of society <how the elite live ― A P World > <how the French-speaking elite ⋯ was changing ― Economist > d : a group of persons who by virtue of position or education exercise much power or influence <members of the ruling elite > <the intellectual elite s of the country> e : a member of such an elite ― usually used in plural <the elite s ⋯ , pursuing their studies in Europe ― Robert Wernick>
2 : a typewriter type providing 12 characters to the linear inch
– elite adjective