Quality - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Quality :  adj
1: of superior grade; "choice wines"; "prime beef"; "prize carnations"; "quality paper"; "select peaches" [syn: choice, prime(a), prize, select]
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" [syn: caliber, calibre]
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" [syn: character, lineament]
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, timber, tone]
5: high social status; "a man of quality"

Based on WordNet 2.0

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.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

QUALITY, persons. The state or condition of a person. 2. Two contrary qualities cannot be in the same person at the same time. Dig. 41, 10, 4. 3. Every one is presumed to know theQuality : of the person with whom he is contracting. 4. In the United States, the people happily are all upon an equality in their civil and political rights.

Based on Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [Bouvier_Law_Dictionary]:

QUALITY, pleading. That which distinguishes one thing from another of the same kind. 2. It is in general necessary, when the declaration alleges an injury to the goods and chattels, or any contract relating to them, that the Quality : should be stated and it is also essential, in an action for the recovery of real estate, that its quality should be shown; as, whether it consists of houses, lands, or other hereditaments, whether the lands are meadow, pasture or arable, &c. The same rule requires that, in an action for an injury to real property, the quality should be shown. Steph. Pl. 214, 215. Vide, as to the various qualities, Ayl. Pand. [60.]

Based on Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [Bouvier_Law_Dictionary]:

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)



Based on the Online Dictionary of Computing [Computer_Dictionary]:

Quality, KY Zip code(s): 42268

Based on the Online Dictionary of Computing [Computer_Dictionary]:

Example Usage of Quality

iSILENTHUNDER: LAST SAVINGS OF 2009. For those who would like something pretty and Quality for a budget that is cost conscious.... http://bit.ly/8MCuPG
tlordxo: Xmas lights. Then Hubbys for Quality time with his parents (: then my baby gets to come home to me <3
engers: TECH - BBC halves the Quality (bitrate) of their HD broadcasts and thinks no-one would notice. They did. http://tumblr.com/x6e4rh0br
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