ENGLISH
REFERENCE

class

n. · v. · adj.
US //ˈkɫæs// UK //klˈɑːs// class
  1. 1 students or a lesson (n.)
    A1 Beginner Education

    a group of students who learn together, or the period of time when they are being taught.

    a group of students meeting regularly for instruction, or a specific instructional period.

    Example

    I have a history class at ten o'clock, so I need to leave now.

    Example

    The professor noted that the morning class was significantly more engaged during the seminar than the afternoon cohort.

  2. 2 social group (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Sociology

    a group of people in society based on their wealth, job, or family background.

    a division of society based on social and economic status.

    Example

    Many people in the city consider themselves part of the middle class.

    Example

    Sociologists argue that social class remains a primary determinant of educational outcomes in modern industrial societies.

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  1. 3 travel category (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the quality or price level of a seat on a plane, train, or ship.

    a category of accommodation or seating on public transport, typically reflecting price and comfort levels.

    Example

    We decided to fly business class because the flight was very long.

    Example

    The airline offers a premium economy class that bridges the gap between standard seating and the luxury of first class.

  2. 4 elegance or style (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a quality of being stylish, polite, or high quality.

    an admirable quality of elegance, sophistication, or high ethical standards in behavior.

    Example

    Even though they lost the game, the team showed real class by shaking hands.

    Example

    The way she handled the public criticism with quiet dignity showed a level of class that her detractors lacked.

    • vulgarity
  3. 5 biological group (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    a way of grouping living things that are similar, like mammals or birds.

    a taxonomic rank in biological classification that sits below phylum and above order.

    Example

    In biology, we learned that humans belong to the class of mammals.

    Example

    The researcher identified a new species that challenged the existing definitions of its assigned biological class.

  4. 6 computing template (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a set of instructions in computer programming that defines how an object works.

    an extensible program-code-template for creating objects, providing initial values for state and implementations of behavior.

    Example

    The programmer created a new class to handle the user's login information.

    Example

    By defining a base class for all vehicle types, the developer ensured that common properties like speed and fuel capacity were inherited consistently.

  5. 7 to categorize (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to put something into a group with other similar things.

    to assign someone or something to a particular category or group.

    Example

    The city is classed as a heritage site because of its old buildings.

    Example

    Critics generally class his early novels as romantic fiction, though his later work is far more experimental and dark.

  6. 8 excellent (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Slang British English Dialect

    very good or excellent.

    denoting high quality or excellence; often used as a general superlative.

    Example

    That goal was absolutely class; I've never seen anything like it.

    Example

    The local fans described the performance as pure class, celebrating the winger's technical skill and composure under pressure.

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