select

[ si-lekt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to choose in preference to another or others; pick out.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a choice; pick.

adjective

1. chosen in preference to another or others; selected.
2. of special value or excellence; choice.
3. careful or fastidious in selecting; discriminating.
4. carefully or fastidiously chosen; exclusive:

   a select group of friends.

select

/ sɪˈlɛkt /

verb

1. to choose (someone or something) in preference to another or others

adjective

1. Alsoselected chosen in preference to another or others
2. of particular quality or excellence
3. limited as to membership or entry

   a select gathering

4. careful in making a choice

Derived Forms

• seˈlectness, noun
• seˈlectly, adverb

Other Words From

• se·lecta·ble adjective
• se·lecta·bili·ty noun
• se·lectly adverb
• se·lectness noun
• se·lector noun
• nonse·lected adjective
• rese·lect verb (used with object)
• unse·lect adjective
• unse·lected adjective
• well-se·lected adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of select¹

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin sēlēctus (past participle of sēligere “to gather apart”), equivalent to sē- “apart” + leg(ere) “to gather, choose” + -tus past participle suffix; lection ( def ), se-

Word History and Origins

Origin of select¹

C16: from Latin sēligere to sort, from sē- apart + legere to choose

Synonym Study

See choose.

Example Sentences

Her initial dialogue sounds selected from prerecorded samples of a human voice — all Nyong’o’s acting, says Sanders, not an audio trick.

From Los Angeles Times

India's 16-member cricket squad - selected months earlier - also had to deal with both personal and national turmoil as they readied themselves for a landmark series.

From BBC

For the model, a subset of these variables was carefully selected using a combination of data-driven methods and clinician input, gathered through a survey of expert pediatric neurosurgeons nationwide.

From Science Daily

"Our team started spiking a range of carefully selected small molecules to the plasma with the aim of minimizing the interactions of highly abundant proteins with nanoparticles," Mahmoudi said.

From Science Daily

He still runs financial firms that serve corporate clients and cryptocurrency platforms, among others, and as commerce secretary he would help select leaders of agencies that regulate those firms, the Times reported.

From Salon

Related Words

• eclectic
• exclusive
• preferred
• privileged
• selected
• selective