I. ˈsüpə(r) noun
( -s )
1.
[short for supernumerary, superintendent, supervisor ]
a. : supernumerary ; especially : a supernumerary actor
b. : one in a position of authority or superiority : superintendent , supervisor
2.
[short for obsolete superhive, from super- + hive ]
: a removable upper story of a beehive containing sections for the storage of honey
3.
[English thieves' slang, alteration of souper, probably from white souper silver watch, from white soup melted silver from stolen articles + English -er ]
: watch 7a
4.
[ super (III) ]
a. : a superfine or superior grade or quality : an extra large size
b. : an article of merchandise of a superfine grade, quality, or large size
5.
[by shortening]
: superphosphate
6.
[origin unknown]
: a thin loosely woven open-meshed starched cotton fabric used especially for reinforcing books
7.
[by shortening]
: supermarket
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to reinforce (as a book backbone) with super
intransitive verb
: to perform as a super
III. adjective
1.
[by shortening]
: superficial 1b
2.
[short for superfine ]
a.
(1) : of a superfine grade or quality
(2) : of great worth, value, excellence, or superiority
tiered tables make super end tables for a small sofa — Better Homes & Gardens
add mint to chocolate syrup for a super sundae sauce — Parents' Magazine
b. : possessing the greatest size, power, complexity, intensity, or development : being very great
super atomic bomb
super truck
super drugstore
a plaster casting … in bilious super gloss colors — I.A.N.Henderson
c.
(1) : exhibiting the characteristics of its type to a great or excessive degree
clowns … are, in essence, super realists — John Grierson
specifically : manifesting excessive loyalty
super patriot
(2) : carried, developed, or made use of to an excessive degree
super secrecy
the assumption that safety lies in setting up verboten signs … is what a super legalism leads to — W.E.Binkley
d. : embracing in its structure or authority complexes of its own nature
such a business-labor-agricultural council would develop into a super lobby with coercive powers — New Republic
IV. adverb
1. : very , extremely
a brand-new super special stove — Parents' Magazine
2. : excessively
inclined to be super critical of the present era hunters — Ed Shearer
V. abbreviation
1. superfine
2. superheterodyne
3. superior