quality

quality [kwôl′ə tē, kwäl′ə tē]

n.

pl. qualities [ME qualite < OFr < L qualitas < qualis, of what kind: see QUALE]

1. any of the features that make something what it is; characteristic element; attribute

2. basic nature; character; kind

3. the degree of excellence which a thing possesses

4. excellence; superiority

5. Now Rare position, capacity, or role

6.

a) Now Rare high social position

b) Now Chiefly Dial. people of high social position

7. Acoustics the property of a tone determined by its overtones; timbre

8. Logic that characteristic of a proposition according to which it is classified as affirmative or negative

9. Phonet. the distinctive character of a vowel sound as determined by the resonance of the vocal cords and the shape of the air passage above the larynx when the sound is produced

adj.

of high quality [quality goods]

SYN.- QUALITY, the broadest in scope of these terms, refers to a characteristic (physical or nonphysical, individual or typical) that constitutes the basic nature of a thing or is one of its distinguishing features [the quality of mercy ]; PROPERTY applies to any quality that belongs to a thing by reason of the essential nature of the thing [elasticity is a property of rubber ]; CHARACTER is the scientific or formal term for a distinctive or peculiar quality of an individual or of a class, species, etc. [a hereditary character]; an ATTRIBUTE is a quality assigned to a thing, esp. one that may reasonably be deduced as appropriate to it [omnipotence is an attribute of God ]; TRAIT specif. applies to a distinguishing quality of a personality [enthusiasm is one of his outstanding traits]