quality has definitions from the field of music
1
[ noun ] an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

Examples

"the quality of mercy is not strained"--Shakespeare

Used in print

(Chicago Daily Tribune...)

True , the pattern and flow of the drama have strong literary qualities that are a_bit wearisome in the first_half , before Don_Quixote goes to the duke 's court .

(The Christian Science Monitor,...)

An enthusiastic audience confirmed the `` live '' character of the hour , and provided the interaction between musician and hearer which almost always seems to improve the quality of performance .

(Organic Gardening and Farming,...)

Sometimes it takes several `` eatings '' of avocado to catch that delightful quality in taste that has made it such a favorite throughout the world .

It is brought to packing_houses , cleaned and graded as to size and quality , and packed in protective excelsior .

(Richard I. McCosh, "Recreation Site Selection"...)

Check the quantity and quality of all_of the recreation interests already existing at the site .

2
[ noun ] a degree or grade of excellence or worth

Synonyms

caliber calibre

Examples

: "the quality of students has risen" "an executive of low caliber"

Used in print

(Edward Austin Walton, "On Education for the Interior...)

It is in the quality of the teaching of all this that a question may arise .

Beyond any question of curriculum and approach to subject must be the quality of the teachers themselves .

(James A. Ibers et al., "Proton magnetic resonance...)

A modulation frequency of 40 cps with an amplitude as small as possible , commensurate with reasonably good signal-to-noise quality , was used .

(E. Lucas Myers, "The Vindication of Dr. Nestor,"...)

The doctor , with the air of a man whose professional interests have found scope , drew Alex 's attention to those excellences which might otherwise have escaped him : the fine color in comb and wattles , the length and quality of neck and saddle_hackles , the firm , wide spread of the toes , and a rare justness in the formation of the ear lappets .

3
[ noun ] a characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something

Synonyms

character lineament

Examples

"each town has a quality all its own" "the radical character of our demands"

Used in print

(John F. Hayward, "Mimesis and Symbol in the Arts"...)

Neither is primary experience understood according_to the attitude of modern empiricism in which nothing is thought to be received other_than signals of sensory qualities producing their responses in the appropriate sense_organs .

Primary feelings of the world come neither as a collection of clearly known objects ( houses , trees , implements , etc . ) nor a collection of isolated and neutral sensory qualities .

We feel the quality of these powers initially as in some degree wholesome or threatening .

As_long_as perception is seen as composed only of isolated sense_data , most_of the quality and interconnectedness of existence loses its objectivity , becomes an invention of consciousness , and the result is a philosophical scepticism .

(A.L. Kroeber, "Semantic Contribution of Lexicostatistic...)

The most important quality of the meanings is that they should be as definable as possible .

4
[ noun ] (music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound)

Synonyms

tone timbre timber

Examples

"the timbre of her soprano was rich and lovely" "the muffled tones of the broken bell summoned them to meet"

Used in print

(High Fidelity, 11:10...)

On the basis of what they give us we can know how the young Caruso sang , appreciate the distinctive qualities of Parsifal under Karl_Muck 's baton , or sense the type of ensemble Toscanini created in his years with the New_York_Philharmonic .

Without losing the distinctive undertow of Brahmsian rhythm , the pacing is firm and the over-all performance has a tightly_knit quality that makes_for maximum cumulative effect .

(Chester G. Starr, The Origins of Greek Civili...)

Greek civilization was swirling toward its great revolution , in which the developed qualities of the Hellenic outlook were suddenly to break forth .

5
[ adjective ] of high social status

Examples

"people of quality" "a quality family"

Related terms

upper-class

6
[ adjective ] of superior grade

Examples

"choice wines" "prime beef" "prize carnations" "quality paper" "select peaches"

Related terms

superior

7
[ noun ] high social status

Examples

"a man of quality"

Related terms

social_station qualify

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