choice
n. · adj.-
1 an option or decision (n.) A2 Elementarythe act of picking between different things, or the possibility of picking.
the act of choosing or selecting; the opportunity or privilege of choosing between alternatives.
ExampleYou have a choice between the red shirt and the blue one.
ExampleFaced with several attractive career paths, she found that making a final choice was more difficult than she had anticipated.
UsageOften used with the prepositions 'between' or 'of'.
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2 the thing chosen (n.) A2 Elementarythe person or thing that you have picked from a group.
the person or thing chosen; the object of a selection process.
ExampleThe steak was a great choice; it tasted delicious.
ExampleThe committee's choice for the new director surprised many, as he was the least experienced candidate on the shortlist.
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3 range of options (n.) B1 Intermediatea number of different things that you can pick from.
a range or variety from which to select.
ExampleThe shop has a wide choice of greeting cards for every occasion.
ExampleThe university offers a vast choice of elective modules, allowing students to tailor their degree to their specific interests.
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4 high quality (adj.) C1 Advanced Formalof very high quality or carefully picked as the best.
of very high quality; selected with care and discrimination.
ExampleThe chef used only the most choice cuts of meat for the banquet.
ExampleThe speaker used a few choice words to describe the government's failure to address the housing crisis.
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'choice words' to mean sarcastic or well-chosen insults.
From Middle English chois, from Old French chois (“choice”), from choisir (“to choose, perceive”), possibly via assumed Vulgar Latin causīre (“to choose”), from Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐌿𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽 (kausjan, “to make a choice, taste, test, choose”), from Proto-Germanic kauzijaną, from keusaną (“to choose”), from Proto-Indo-European ǵews- (“to choose”). Akin to Old High German kiosan (“to choose”), Old English ċēosan (“to choose”), Old Norse kjósa (“to choose”). More at choose.
From Middle English choys, from a merger of the noun above and Middle English chyse, chuse, chys, chis (“choice, excellent”), from Old English ċīes (“choice; dainty; nice”), related to Old English ċēosan (“to choose”).