first-rate en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
- (UK, historical, not-comparable) Of a Royal Navy ship of the line in the Napoleonic Era: having at least 100 guns across three gun decks, a complement of 850–875, and weighing approximately 2,500 tons burthen.
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(idiomatic, not-comparable) Superb, exceptional; of the best sort; very high quality.
Our only first-rate body of contemporary poetry is the German.
1867, Matthew Arnold, On the Study of Celtic Literature:He used to drop into my chambers once in a while to smoke, and was first-rate company. When I gave a dinner there was generally a cover laid for him. I liked the man for his own sake, and even had he promised to turn out a celebrity it would have had no weight with me.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter I, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 2:"I once did something right. I played first-rate basketball. I really did. And after you're first-rate at something, no matter what, it kind of takes the kick out of being second-rate."
1960, John Updike, 'Rabbit, Run', page 92:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| first rate | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Relateds
fifth-rate · top notch · top of the line · second-rate · a-number-one · sixth-rate · third-rate · fourth-rate
Synonyms
bitching · copacetic · worldie · tight · divine · pog · top-of-the-range · top-drawer · exemplary · rum · cher · bomb · beneship · outstanding · badass · spectacular · out of sight · kick-ass · extraordinary · lautitious · lit · great · based · awesome · fireball · fabulous · finger-lickin' good · gnarly · bully · epic · bang-up · sterling · wicked pissah · goated · rad · choice · slap-up · impeccable · swell · first-rate · marvelous · priceless · chronic · tubular · def · peak · superb · sensational · poggers · wonderful · crackerjack · topping · remarkable · fire · commendable · fab · slick · dank · sweet · excellent · immaculate · studly · fantastic · wicked · lash · phat · fantabulosa · heavenly · cock on · super · fly · ace · frabjous · splendid · phenomenal · nang · heavenlike · quality · amazing · spiffing · kicking · admirable · cool · celestial · peng · tuff · bang on · radical · amazing · beatific · awe-inspiring · top-notch · broyal · top-hole · well-done · killer · delightful · incredible · terrific · chur · blissful · exceptional · top-shelf · spot on · magnificent · pukka · top · brilliant · sick · magnificent · dope · glorious · cushty · stellar · stunning · splendid · exquisite · fierce · grouse · superior
Translations (27)
pl pierwszorzędny (superb, exceptional) · hu elsőrangú (superb, exceptional) · fr de premier choix (superb, exceptional) · ru первосо́ртный (superb, exceptional) · ja 一流の (superb, exceptional) · hu első osztályú (superb, exceptional) · de erstklassig (superb, exceptional) · cmn 一流 (superb, exceptional) · es excelente (superb, exceptional) · uk першосо́ртний (superb, exceptional) · es de primera (superb, exceptional) · ru перворазря́дный (superb, exceptional) · cmn 頂呱呱 /顶呱呱 (superb, exceptional) · cs prvotřídní (superb, exceptional) · be першакласны (superb, exceptional) · ru первокла́ссный (superb, exceptional) · cmn 最佳 (superb, exceptional) · be файны (superb, exceptional) · mk прво́класен (superb, exceptional) · cmn 頭等 /头等 (superb, exceptional) · de erstrangig (superb, exceptional) · uk першокла́сний (superb, exceptional) · ga diail (superb, exceptional) · pt de primeira classe (superb, exceptional) · fi erinomainen (superb, exceptional) · bg първокачествен (superb, exceptional) · la prīmārius (superb, exceptional)