- class
- class1 W1S1 [kla:s US klæs] n▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(social group)¦2¦(students)¦3¦(teaching period)¦4¦(studying)¦5¦(same type of something)¦6¦(train/aircraft etc)¦7¦(quality)¦8¦(style/skill)¦9¦(university degree)¦▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[Date: 1500-1600; : French; Origin: classe, from Latin classis 'class of citizens, social class']1.) ¦(SOCIAL GROUP)¦a)one of the groups in a society that different types of people are divided into according to their jobs, income, education etcprofessional/landowning/working etc class▪ a Marxist view of the ruling classes▪ a member of the landed class (=people who own land)class divisions/differences etc▪ social class inequalitiesb) [U]the system in which people are divided into these groups▪ Defining the concept of class is not an easy task.class system/structure▪ The old class system is slowly disappearing.2.) ¦(STUDENTS)¦ [C, also + plural verb British English]a) a group of students who are taught together→↑classmate in a class▪ We're in the same class for math.▪ Gary came top of the class in English.▪ My class are going to the Lake District.b) AmE a group of students who finished studying together in the same year▪ a class reunionthe class of 1965/2001 etc(=the group of students who finished in 1965 etc)▪ The class of '69 spent almost as much time protesting as learning.3.) ¦(TEACHING PERIOD)¦ [U and C]a period of time during which someone teaches a group of people, especially in a schoolBritish Equivalent: lessongeography/French/cooking etc class▪ I missed Bible class last week.in class(=during the class)▪ No talking in class!▪ Were you late for class this morning?have a class AmE▪ I have physics class at 9:30 on Tuesdays.4.) ¦(STUDYING)¦a series of classes in a particular subjectBritish Equivalent: courseclass in▪ a class in photography at night schooldance/aerobics/Greek etc class▪ Dance classes start at 5:15.take/attend/do a class(=go to a series of classes)▪ Cindy's taking a class on dealing with stress.▪ He attended evening classes at the local college.5.) ¦(SAME TYPE OF SOMETHING)¦a group of people, animals, or things that are considered together because they are similar in some wayclass of▪ Have you passed a test for this class of vehicle?6.) ¦(TRAIN/AIRCRAFT ETC)¦ [C usually singular]one of the different standards of seats, food etc available on a train, aircraft etcfirst/business/tourist etc class▪ We always travel first class.7.) ¦(QUALITY)¦a group into which people or things are divided according to their quality or abilitiesnicer/better etc class of sth▪ The port now attracts a wealthier class of visitor.in a class of its own/in a different class(=better than everything else)▪ Its sheer versatility puts this computer in a different class.▪ He's not in the same class (=not as good) as her at tennis.8.) ¦(STYLE/SKILL)¦[U] informala high level of style or skill in something→↑classyhave/show class▪ The team showed real class in this afternoon's match.▪ A fountain will give your garden a touch of class .class player/actress etca class act informal (=someone who is skilful, attractive etc)▪ Laughton is a class act who's proved his worth in the game.9.) ¦(UNIVERSITY DEGREE)¦ BrEone of the three levels of a university degree▪ a second class degreeclass 2class2 v [T often passive]to consider people, things etc as belonging to a particular group, using an official system= ↑classify class sb/sth as sth▪ Heroin and cocaine are classed as hard drugs.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.