/i leet", ay leet"/ , n.
1. ( often used with a pl. v. ) the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons.
2. ( used with a pl. v. ) persons of the highest class: Only the elite were there.
3. a group of persons exercising the major share of authority or influence within a larger group: the power elite of a major political party.
4. a type, approximately 10-point in printing-type size, widely used in typewriters and having 12 characters to the inch. Cf. pica 1 .
adj.
5. representing the most choice or select; best: an elite group of authors.
Also, élite .
[ 1350-1400; ME elit a person elected to office e ( s ) lit ptp. of e ( s ) lire to choose; see ELECT ]