quality (n.)

  1. an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone; the quality of mercy is not strained--Shakespeare

  2. a degree or grade of excellence or worth; the quality of students has risen; an executive of low caliber

    [ Syn: caliber , calibre ]

  3. a characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something; each town has a quality all its own; the radical character of our demands

    [ Syn: character , lineament ]

  4. (music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound); the timbre of her soprano was rich and lovely; the muffled tones of the broken bell summoned them to meet

    [ Syn: timbre , timber , tone ]

  5. high social status; a man of quality'

    quality (adj.)

  1. of superior grade; choice wines; prime beef; prize carnations; quality paper; select peaches

    [ Syn: choice , prime , prize , select ]

  2. of high social status; people of quality; a quality family'

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.