superior Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun one of greater rank or station or quality
    superordinate; higher-up.
  2. noun the head of a religious community
  3. noun a combatant who is able to defeat rivals
    master; victor.
  4. noun the largest freshwater lake in the world; the deepest of the Great Lakes
    Lake Superior.
  5. noun a town in northwest Wisconsin on Lake Superior across from Duluth
  6. noun a character or symbol set or printed or written above and immediately to one side of another character
    superscript.
  7. adjective of high or superior quality or performance
    • superior wisdom derived from experience
    • superior math students
  8. adjective of or characteristic of high rank or importance
    • a superior ruler
  9. adjective satellite (sometimes followed by `to') not subject to or influenced by
    • overcome by a superior opponent
    • trust magnates who felt themselves superior to law
  10. adjective written or printed above and to one side of another character
    superscript.
  11. adjective having an orbit farther from the sun than the Earth's orbit
    • Mars and Jupiter are the closest in of the superior planets
  12. adjective satellite having a higher rank
    ranking; higher-ranking.
    • superior officer
  13. adjective satellite (often followed by `to') above being affected or influenced by
    • he is superior to fear
    • an ignited firework proceeds superior to circumstances until its blazing vitality fades

WordNet

Su*pe"ri*or adjective
Etymology
L., compar. of superus being above, fr. super above, over: cf. F. supérieur. See Super-, and cf. Supreme.
Definitions
  1. More elevated in place or position; higher; upper; as, the superior limb of the sun; the superior part of an image.
  2. Higher in rank or office; more exalted in dignity; as, a superior officer; a superior degree of nobility.
  3. Higher or greater in excellence; surpassing others in the greatness, or value of any quality; greater in quality or degree; as, a man of superior merit; or of superior bravery.
  4. Beyond the power or influence of; too great or firm to be subdued or affected by; -- with to.
    There is not in earth a spectacle more worthy than a great man superior to his sufferings. Spectator.
  5. More comprehensive; as a term in classification; as, a genus is superior to a species.
  6. (Bot.) (a) Above the ovary; -- said of parts of the flower which, although normally below the ovary, adhere to it, and so appear to originate from its upper part; also of an ovary when the other floral organs are plainly below it in position, and free from it. (b) Belonging to the part of an axillary flower which is toward the main stem; posterior. (c) Pointing toward the apex of the fruit; ascending; -- said of the radicle.
Su*pe"ri*or noun
Definitions
  1. One who is above, or surpasses, another in rank, station, office, age, ability, or merit; one who surpasses in what is desirable; as Addison has no superior as a writer of pure English.
  2. (Eccl.) The head of a monastery, convent, abbey, or the like.

Webster 1913