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Entry 3 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

First-rate

/(fẽrst"rāt`)/ · First·-rate · IPA /fˌɜrstrˈeɪt/
01 a. Of the highest excellence; preëminent in quality, size, or estimation.
  1. 1.
    Of the highest excellence; preëminent in quality, size, or estimation.
    “Our only first-rate body of contemporary poetry is the German.” — M. Arnold.
    “Hermocrates . . . a man of first-rate ability.” — Jowett (Thucyd).
02 n. A war vessel of the highest grade or the most powerful class.
  1. 1.
    A war vessel of the highest grade or the most powerful class.(Naut.)
03 adj. of the highest quality; as, a first-rate reporter.
  1. 1.
    of the highest quality; as, a first-rate reporter.
Syn. ace, A-one, first-class, super, tip-top, topnotch, tops(predicate).