quality definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms of quality

attribute, character, characteristic, feature, mark, peculiarity, property, savor, trait, caliber, stature, value

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8 dictionary results for: quality

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

qual⋅i⋅ty

[kwol-i-tee]

noun, plural -ties, adjective

–noun

1.	an essential or distinctive characteristic, property, or attribute: the chemical qualities of alcohol.

2.	character or nature, as belonging to or distinguishing a thing: the quality of a sound.

3.	character with respect to fineness, or grade of excellence: food of poor quality; silks of fine quality.

4.	high grade; superiority; excellence: wood grain of quality.

5.	a personality or character trait: kindness is one of her many good qualities.

6.	native excellence or superiority.

7.	an accomplishment or attainment.

8.	good or high social position: a man of quality.

9.	the superiority or distinction associated with high social position.

10.	Acoustics. the texture of a tone, dependent on its overtone content, that distinguishes it from others of the same pitch and loudness.

11.	Phonetics. the tonal color, or timbre, that characterizes a particular vowel sound.

12.	Logic. the character of a proposition as affirmative or negative.

13.	Thermodynamics. the proportion or percentage of vapor in a mixture of liquid and vapor, as wet steam.

14.	social status or position.

15.	a person of high social position: He's quality, that one is.

–adjective

16.	of or having superior quality: quality paper.

17.	producing or providing products or services of high quality or merit: a quality publisher.

18.	of or occupying high social status: a quality family.

19.	marked by a concentrated expenditure of involvement, concern, or commitment: Counselors are urging that working parents try to spend more quality time with their children.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME qualite < OF < L quālitās, equiv. to quāl(is) of what sort + -itās -ity

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

qual·i·ty (kwŏl'ĭ-tē) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. qual·i·ties

1. An inherent or distinguishing characteristic; a property.
2. A personal trait, especially a character trait: "The most vital quality a soldier can possess is self-confidence" (George S. Patton).
3. Superiority of kind: an intellect of unquestioned quality.
4. Degree or grade of excellence: yard goods of low quality.
5. High social position.
6. Those in a high social position.
Essential character; nature: "The quality of mercy is not strain'd" (Shakespeare).
1. Superiority of kind: an intellect of unquestioned quality.
2. Degree or grade of excellence: yard goods of low quality.
3. High social position.
4. Those in a high social position.
1. High social position.
2. Those in a high social position.
Music Timbre, as determined by harmonics: a voice with a distinctive metallic quality.
Linguistics The character of a vowel sound determined by the size and shape of the oral cavity and the amount of resonance with which the sound is produced.
Logic The positive or negative character of a proposition.

adj. Having a high degree of excellence: the importance of quality health care.

[Middle English qualite, from Old French, from Latin quālitās, quālitāt-, from quālis, of what kind; see k^wo- in Indo-European roots.]

Synonyms: These nouns signify a feature that distinguishes or identifies someone or something: explained the qualities of noble gases; tested the resilient property of rubber; knew the attributes of a fine wine; liked the rural character of the ranch; had positive traits such as kindness and generosity.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
quality

c.1290, from O.Fr. qualite (12c., Fr. qualité), from L. qualitatem (nom. qualitas; said to have been coined by Cicero to translate Gk. poiotes), from qualis "of what sort," from PIE pronomial base *kwo- (see qua). Noun phrase quality time first recorded 1977. Quality of life is from 1943. Quality control first attested 1935.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

quality
adjective
1.	of superior grade; "choice wines"; "prime beef"; "prize carnations"; "quality paper"; "select peaches" [syn: choice]
2.	of high social status; "people of quality"; "a quality family"
noun
1.	an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone; "the quality of mercy is not strained"--Shakespeare
2.	a degree or grade of excellence or worth; "the quality of students has risen"; "an executive of low caliber"
3.	a characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something; "each town has a quality all its own"; "the radical character of our demands"
4.	(music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound); "the timbre of her soprano was rich and lovely"; "the muffled tones of the broken bell summoned them to meet" [syn: timbre]
5.	high social status; "a man of quality"

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: qual·i·ty
Pronunciation: 'kwäl-&t-E
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
: a special ordistinguishing attribute: as a : TIMBRE b : the attribute of an elementary sensation that makesit fundamentally unlike any other sensation c : the character of an X-ray beam that determines its penetrating power and is dependent upon its wavelength distribution

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: qual·i·ty
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
1 : a special, distinctive, or essential character: as a : a character, position, or role assumed quality of heir —Louisiana Civil Code> b : the character of an estate as determined by the manner in which it is to be held or enjoyed
2 : degree of excellence quality>

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

quality
The totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs. Not to be mistaken for "degree of excellence" or "fitness for use" which meet only part of the definition.
[ISO8402].
(1995-11-10)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Quality

Qual"i*ty\, n.; pl. Qualities. [F. qualit['e], L. qualitas, fr. qualis how constituted, as; akin to E. which. See Which.]

1. The condition of being of such and such a sort as distinguished from others; nature or character relatively considered, as of goods; character; sort; rank.

We lived most joyful, obtaining acquaintance with many of the city not of the meanest quality. --Bacon

2. Special or temporary character; profession; occupation; assumed or asserted rank, part, or position.

I made that inquiry in quality of an antiquary. --Gray.

3. That which makes, or helps to make, anything such as it is; anything belonging to a subject, or predicable of it; distinguishing property, characteristic, or attribute; peculiar power, capacity, or virtue; distinctive trait; as, the tones of a flute differ from those of a violin in quality; the great quality of a statesman.

Note: Qualities, in metaphysics, are primary or secondary. Primary are those essential to the existence, and even the conception, of the thing, as of matter or spirit Secondary are those not essential to such a conception.

4. An acquired trait; accomplishment; acquisition.

He had those qualities of horsemanship, dancing, and fencing which accompany a good breeding. --Clarendon.

5. Superior birth or station; high rank; elevated character. "Persons of quality." --Bacon.

Quality binding, a kind of worsted tape used in Scotland for binding carpets, and the like.

The quality, those of high rank or station, as distinguished from the masses, or common people; the nobility; the gentry.

I shall appear at the masquerade dressed up in my feathers, that the quality may see how pretty they will look in their traveling habits. --Addison.

Syn: Property; attribute; nature; peculiarity; character; sort; rank; disposition; temper.

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