class (classes plural & 3rd person present) (classing present participle) (classed past tense & past participle )
1 n-count A class is a group of pupils or students who are taught together.
He had to spend about six months in a class with younger students..., Reducing class sizes should be a top priority.
2 n-count A class is a course of teaching in a particular subject.
oft n N
(=lesson)
He acquired a law degree by taking classes at night..., I go to dance classes here in New York.
3 n-uncount If you do something in class, you do it during a lesson in school.
in N
There is lots of reading in class.
4 n-sing The students in a school or university who finish their course in a particular year are often referred to as the class of that year.
N of date
These two members of Yale's Class of '57 never miss a reunion.
5 n-var Class refers to the division of people in a society into groups according to their social status.
...the relationship between social classes..., ...the characteristics of the British class structure.
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chattering classes
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middle class
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upper class
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working class
6 n-count A classof things is a group of them with similar characteristics.
usu N of n
...the division of the stars into six classes of brightness.
7 verb If someone or something is classed as a particular thing, they are regarded as belonging to that group of things.
Since the birds inter-breed they cannot be classed as different species... be V-ed as n/adj
I class myself as an ordinary working person... V pron-refl as n
I would class my garden as medium in size... V n as adj/n
Malaysia wants to send back refugees classed as economic migrants. V-ed
8 n-uncount If you say that someone or something has class, you mean that they are elegant and sophisticated.
INFORMAL, approval He's got the same style off the pitch as he has on it<endash>sheer class.
9
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business class
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first-class
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second-class
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third-class
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top-class
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world-class
10 If someone is in a class of their own, they have more of a particular skill or quality than anyone else. If something is in a class of its own, it is better than any other similar thing.
in a class of one's own phrase usu v-link PHR As a player, he was in a class of his own.
business class
Business class seating on an aeroplane costs less than first class but more than economy class. adj ADJ n
You can pay to be upgraded to a business class seat.
Business class is also an adverb., adv ADV after v
They flew business class.
Business class is the business class seating on an aeroplane., n-uncount
The Australian team will be seated in business class.
class action (class actions plural )A class action is a legal case brought by a group of people rather than an individual. n-count usu sing
class-conscious
Someone who is class-conscious is very aware of the differences between the various classes of people in society, and often has a strong feeling of belonging to a particular class. adj
Nineteenth-century Britain was a class-conscious society.
class-consciousness n-uncount
There was very little snobbery or class-consciousness in the wartime navy.
economy class
On an aeroplane, an economy class ticket or seat is the cheapest available. adj ADJ n
The price includes two economy class airfares from Brisbane to Los Angeles.
economy-class syndrome
Economy-class syndrome is a serious medical condition caused by blood clots in the legs moving up to the lungs; used especially in connection with long-haul flights. n-uncount
Lemon juice can help to prevent economy-class syndrome by improving blood circulation.
evening class (evening classes plural )An evening class is a course for adults that is taught in the evening rather than during the day. n-count
Jackie has been learning flamenco dancing at an evening class for three years.
first-class , first class
1 adj If you describe something or someone as first-class, you mean that they are extremely good and of the highest quality.
(=first-rate)
The food was first-class..., She has a first-class brain and is a damned good writer.
2 adj You use first-class to describe something that is in the group that is considered to be of the highest standard.
ADJ n
He officially announced his retirement from first-class cricket yesterday..., Harriet graduated with a first class degree in literature...
3 adj First-class accommodation on a train, aeroplane, or ship is the best and most expensive type of accommodation.
ADJ n
He won himself two first-class tickets to fly to Dublin., ...first-class passengers.
First-class is also an adverb., adv ADV after v
She had never flown first class before.
First-class is the first-class accommodation on a train, aeroplane, or ship., n-uncount
He paid for and was assigned a cabin in first class.
4 adj In Britain, first-class postage is the quicker and more expensive type of postage. In the United States, first-class postage is the type of postage that is used for sending letters and postcards.
ADJ n
Two first class stamps, please...
First-class is also an adverb., adv ADV after v
It took six days to arrive despite being posted first class.
high-class
If you describe something as high-class, you mean that it is of very good quality or of superior social status. adj usu ADJ n
...a high-class jeweller's.
lower class (lower classes plural ), lower-class Some people use thelower class or thelower classes to refer to the division of society that they consider to have the lowest social status. n-count-coll usu pl
Education now offers the lower classes access to job opportunities...
Lower class is also an adjective., adj
...lower-class families...
middle class (middle classes plural )Themiddle class or middle classes are the people in a society who are not working class or upper class. Business people, managers, doctors, lawyers, and teachers are usually regarded as middle class. n-count-coll usu the N
...the expansion of the middle class in the late 19th century..., The President may have secured some support from the middle classes.
Middle class is also an adjective., adj
He is rapidly losing the support of blue-collar voters and of middle-class conservatives...
reception class (reception classes plural )A reception class is a class that children go into when they first start school at the age of four or five.
(BRIT) n-count
second-class , second class
1 adj If someone treats you as a second-class citizen, they treat you as if you are less valuable and less important than other people.
ADJ n
Too many airlines treat our children as second-class citizens.
2 adj If you describe something as second-class, you mean that it is of poor quality.
usu ADJ n
(=second-rate)
I am not prepared to see children in some parts of this country having to settle for a second-class education.
3 adj The second-class accommodation on a train or ship is the ordinary accommodation, which is cheaper and less comfortable than the first-class accommodation.
ADJ n
He sat in the corner of a second-class carriage..., ...a second-class ticket.
Second class is also an adverb., adv ADV after v
I recently travelled second class from Pisa to Ventimiglia.
Second-class is second-class accommodation on a train or ship., n-uncount
In second class the fare is £85 one-way.
4 adj In Britain, second-class postage is the slower and cheaper type of postage. In the United States, second-class postage is the type of postage that is used for sending newspapers and magazines.
ADJ n
...a second-class stamp.
Second class is also an adverb., adv ADV after v
They're going to send it second class.
5 adj In Britain, a second-class degree is a good university degree, but not as good as a first-class degree.
ADJ n
A second-class honours degree is the minimum requirement.
third-class
A third-class degree is the lowest honours degree that can be obtained from a British university. adj ADJ n
top-class , top class
Top-class means among the finest of its kind. adj
We think he'll turn into a top-class player.
upper class (upper classes plural ), upper-class The upper class or the upper classes are the group of people in a society who own the most property and have the highest social status, and who may not need to work for money. n-count-coll usu the N
...goods specifically designed to appeal to the tastes of the upper class...
Upper class is also an adjective., adj usu ADJ n
All of them came from wealthy, upper class families.
word class (word classes plural )A word class is a group of words that have the same basic behaviour, for example nouns, adjectives, or verbs. n-count
working class (working classes plural )The working class or the working classes are the group of people in a society who do not own much property, who have low social status, and who do jobs which involve using physical skills rather than intellectual skills. n-count-coll the N
...increased levels of home ownership among the working classes.
Working class is also an adjective., adj usu ADJ n
...a self-educated man from a working class background..., The group is mainly black, mainly working-class.
world-class
A world-class sports player, performer, or organization is one of the best in the world. (JOURNALISM) adj usu ADJ n
He was determined to become a world-class player.
