select
pronunciation
How to pronounce select in British English:
UK [sɪˈlekt]
How to pronounce select in American English:
US [sɪˈlekt]
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- Verb:
- pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
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- Adjective:
- of superior grade
- selected or chosen for special qualifications
Word Origin
- select
- select: [16] Select is one of a wide range of English words that go back ultimately to Latin legere ‘choose’ or its past participle lectus (others include collect and elect and, from its later extended meaning ‘read’, lectern and lecture). Addition of the prefix sē- ‘apart’ produced sēligere ‘choose out’, whose past participle sēlectus gave English select, both as adjective and verb.=> collect, elect, lecture, legible
- select (adj.)
- 1560s, from Latin selectus, past participle of seligere "choose out, single out, select; separate, cull," from se- "apart" (see secret (n.)) + legere "to gather, select" (see lecture (n.)). The noun meaning "a selected person or thing, that which is choice" is recorded from c. 1600. New England selectman first recorded 1640s.
- select (v.)
- "to single out one or more out of a number of things of the same kind," 1560s, from select (adj.) or from Latin selectus. Related: Selected; selecting.
Antonym
Example
- 1. Select and install idea management software for your intranet .
- 2. Ought employers to use genetic testing to select their workers ?
- 3. Can you help me select the dress ?
- 4. A few select larger privately owned yards may also benefit .
- 5. Too many seem to have no clue how to select managers .