class

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: kläs, IPA ^(key): /klɑːs/ or /klas/ or /klæs/
• (US) enPR: klăs, IPA ^(key): /klæs/ or /kleəs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

Singular class

Plural classes

A class.

Biological classification levels.

1. (countable & uncountable) A class is a time for learning.
   • Synonyms: lesson and period

   The history class is interesting.

   Class today will be about whole numbers.

   The number of students attending class is increasing.

   I'd better go. I've got a class to teach.

2. (countable) A class is a group of students.
   • Synonyms: students and group

   They are my best class because they are always here on time.

   Class sizes are usually larger in high school.

3. (countable & uncountable) Class is a good style or attitude.
   • Synonyms: style, attitude and elegance

   You could tell by here clothes that she was a woman of class.

4. (countable & uncountable) A class is a group of members with similar characteristics.
   • Synonyms: group, set, grade, division, category and rank
5. (countable & uncountable) A class is a group of people in a society with similar jobs, education, history, and money.

   They were both from the upper class and both knew the queen personally.

   We treat everyone the same regardless of race, class, sex, or age.

   The British class system doesn't work in Canada.

6. (countable) Something's class is how good it is.
   • Synonyms: level and quality

   She bought a first-class ticket because she wanted to have the best quality.

7. (countable) (biology) An organism's class is its group: mammals, reptiles, insects, arachnids, etc.
8. (countable) (grammar) A word's class is its syntactic group: noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.
   • Synonyms: category and part of speech

   Shall belongs to the class of words called "modal auxiliary verbs".

Related words

• classification
• classify
• classy
• outclass
• upper class, middle class, lower class, working class
• subclass

Verb

Plain form class

Third-person singular classes

Past tense classed

Past participle classed

Present participle classing

1. (transitive), (usually passive) If something is classed as a member of a group, it belongs to that group because of some characteristics shared by the group's members.
   • Synonyms: arrange, grade, assign, rank, classify, categorize, categorise, brand and group

   Although it looks like a motorcycle, it is officially classed as a car.

Adjective

Positive class

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. (usually before a noun) A class act is high quality
   • Synonym: good
   .

   Most high school coaches are class individuals, and they should get our thanks.