1. (

• quality

) an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone; "the quality of mercy is not strained";

2. (

• quality ,
• caliber ,
• calibre

) a degree or grade of excellence or worth; "the quality of students has risen"; "an executive of low caliber" ;

3. (

• quality ,
• character ,
• lineament

) 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" ;

4. (

• timbre ,
• timber ,
• quality ,
• tone ,

) (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" ;

5. (

• quality

) high social status; "a man of quality" ;

1. (

• choice ,
• prime ,
• prize ,
• quality ,
• select ,

) of superior grade; "choice wines"; "prime beef"; "prize carnations"; "quality paper"; "select peaches" ;

2. (

• quality

) of high social status; "people of quality"; "a quality family" ;