New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
First-rate — was the designation used by the Royal Navy for its largest ships of the line, those mounting 100 guns or more on three gundecks. [Bennett The Battle of Trafalgar , p. 19] First rate vessels carried over 800 crew and displaced in excess of 2,000… … Wikipedia
first-rate — ˌfirst ˈrate adjective excellent or of the very best quality: • Our sales force receive first rate training. • Service at the hotel is first rate, and the rates are very reasonable. * * * first rate UK US /ˌfɜːstˈreɪt/ adjective ► of the highest… … Financial and business terms
First-rate — (f[ e]rst r[=a]t ), a. Of the highest excellence; pre[ e]minent in quality, size, or estimation. [1913 Webster] Our only first rate body of contemporary poetry is the German. M. Arnold. [1913 Webster] Hermocrates . . . a man of first rate ability … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
first-rate — adj. 1. of the highest quality; as, a first rate reporter. Syn: ace, A one, first class, super, tip top, topnotch, tops(predicate). [WordNet 1.5] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
first-rate — adjective of the highest quality: The service is first rate. He s doing a first rate job … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
first-rate — first rate; first rate·ly; first rate·ness; … English syllables
first-rate — first class / first rate [adj] superior, excellent capital, choice, dandy, fine, first string*, fivestar*, in class by itself*, prime*, shipshape, sound, supreme, tiptop*, top, top notch*, very good; concept 574 Ant. bad, inferior, lesser, poor,… … New thesaurus
First-rate — n. (Naut.) A war vessel of the highest grade or the most powerful class. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
first-rate — adj of the very best quality = ↑excellent ▪ He s a first rate surgeon … Dictionary of contemporary English
first-rate — first′ rate′ adj. 1) excellent; superb 2) of the highest rank, rate, or class 3) very well • Etymology: 1660–70 … From formal English to slang
first-rate — index best, meritorious, preferential, premium, prime (most valuable), select, superior (excellent) … Law dictionary
