elite ♦︎ society ♦︎ the nobility ♦︎ the aristocracy ♦︎ the gentry ♦︎ the upper classThese are all words for the group of people in a society who belong to a high social class and/or have a lot of power, money or influence.这些词均表示上层社会、掌权阶级。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆among the elite / nobility / aristocracy / gentry / upper class◆the local elite / nobility / aristocracy / gentry◆the British / French, etc. elite / nobility / aristocracy / gentry / upper class◆the landed / landowning / minor / lesser nobility / aristocracy / gentry◆to belong to an elite / the nobility / the aristocracy / the gentry / the upper classes■elite /eɪˈliːt, ɪˈliːt/ [countable + singular or plural verb] a group of people in a society or area of activity who are powerful and have a lot of influence, because they are rich and/or educated上层集团；掌权阶层；社会精英◆In these countries, only the elite can afford an education for their children.在这些国家，只有上层人士才供得起子女上学。◆He came from the country's intellectual elite.他属于这个国家的知识界精英。 see also elite ⇨ topadj., elitist ⇨ exclusive■society [uncountable] a group of people in a country or area who are fashionable, rich and powerful上流社会◆She was a poor Irish girl who married into New York society.她本是爱尔兰穷人家的女儿，嫁到了纽约上流社会。◆She moved in high society and had many literary friends.她进入了上流社会，结识了很多文学界的朋友。◆The revelations have outraged polite society.披露的真相激怒了上流社会。◆He was a popular photographer for society weddings.他是个有名气的摄影师，专为上层社会婚礼提供服务。■the nobility [singular + singular or plural verb](in some countries) people of the highest social class, who have special titles such as Duke or Duchess（某些国家的）贵族◆She had some influential supporters, including members of the nobility.她有一些影响力很大的支持者，其中包括贵族成员。 see also noble ⇨ lordnoun, noble ⇨ aristocraticadj.■the aristocracy /ˌærɪˈstɒkrəsi; NAmEˌærɪˈstɑːkrəsi/ [countable + singular or plural verb](in some countries) people of the highest social class, who have special titles such as Duke or Duchess（某些国家的）贵族◆He claimed to be a member of the minor aristocracy(= with a lower title).他自称是有低等爵位的贵族。 see also aristocrat ⇨ lord, aristocratic ⇨ aristocratic■the gentry [plural](used to talk about the past) people belonging to a high social class（旧时的）绅士阶层，上流社会人士◆The influence of the Church and the landed gentry(= those owning a lot of land) at that time cannot be overemphasized.当时教会和乡绅的影响力非常之大。NOTE辨析 Nobility, aristocracy or Gentry?The nobility or the aristocracy are the group of people in some countries, especially in the past, who were born in the highest social class, below royalty. They have special titles such as Duke, Duchess, Count or Earl. They are usually rich and powerful, and often own land. In the past, the gentry were people with a high social class, just below the nobility in rank, who were usually rich and owned land, but did not always have special titles, and were usually powerful at a local level rather than at a national level.在一些国家，the nobility或the aristocracy尤指旧时出身仅在皇族之下的贵族。这些人拥有诸如公爵、女公爵或伯爵等封号，通常有财有势，还常拥有土地。在过去，the gentry指社会地位仅次于贵族的上层人士，这些人通常很富有且拥有土地，但不一定有封号，在当地通常非常有权势，但其影响力未达全国范围。■the ˌupper ˈclass [singular + singular or plural verb] (especially NAmE) ( the ˌupper ˈclasses [plural]) the group of people in a society that are considered to have the highest social status and that have more money and/or power than other people上流社会；上等阶层◆They produced luxury furniture for the middle and upper classes.他们为中上等阶层生产豪华家具。ⓘ The upper class is sometimes used to refer just to the aristocracy, but is often used with a wider meaning, including the gentry and sometimes also business and professional people with enough money to buy the property, education and culture needed to enable them to mix socially with other members of the upper class. * the upper class有时专指贵族，但其含义常比较宽泛，涵盖绅士阶层，有时甚至包括那些有经济实力的商人和专业人士，他们购置房产、接受高等教育和文化熏陶，进而能融入到上流社会中◆Wealthy industrialists joined the upper class by virtue of their newly acquired spending power.富有的实业家凭借他们刚获得的高消费能力步入了上层社会。 see also class ⇨ class4, the middle class ⇨ the middle classnoun, the working class ⇨ the general public, upper class ⇨ aristocratic
top
adjective
➡ See also the entry for ⇨ main另见main条top ♦︎ senior ♦︎ chief ♦︎ leading ♦︎ high ♦︎ first ♦︎ high-ranking ♦︎ premier ♦︎ foremost ♦︎ superior ♦︎ eliteThese words all describe sb/sth that is the highest in position, rank or degree.这些词均表示最高级别的、一流的、顶尖的。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆a top / senior / chief / leading / high-ranking / superior officer◆a top / senior / chief / leading adviser / aide / economist / lawyer◆a top / senior / chief / high-ranking executive◆a top / senior / leading / high-ranking official◆a senior / leading / high-ranking figure / member◆the chief / leading / foremost exponent of sth◆the leading / foremost authority / expert on sth◆a top / senior grade / appointment / job◆the top / first / premier division / prize◆top / high grades / marks■top [usually before noun] highest in position, rank or degree（位置、级别或程度）最高的◆He lives on the top floor.他住在顶层。◆She's one of the top players in the country.她是国内顶尖运动员之一。◆The car was travelling at top speed.那辆汽车全速行驶。◆This is top quality silk.这是最优质的丝绸。ⓘ Top can be used after a linking verb, but only in British English. * top可用于连系动词后，但仅在英式英语中有此用法◆ (BrE) He finished top in the exam.他考试得了第一名。◆They're top of the league.他们在联赛中位居榜首。▸top
noun
[countable] ◆She was standing at the top of the stairs.她站在楼梯的顶端。◆Write your name at the top.把你的姓名写在上端。◆He's at the top of his profession.他正处于事业的巅峰。◆This decision came from the top(= the most important person in an organization).这一决定是由最高领导作出的。OPPbottom ⇨ bottom■seniorhigh in rank or status; higher in rank or status than others级别（或地位）高的◆She's a senior lecturer at the university.她是那所大学的高级讲师。◆I'm looking for a more senior position.我在寻找更高的职位。◆He is senior to me.他的职位比我高。OPPjuniorⓘ A person in a junior position is low in rank or status, or lower than others. * junior指级别或地位低的◆junior employees初级员工◆She is junior to me.她的职位比我低。■chief (often常作Chief) [only before noun] highest in rank最高级别的；为首的；首席的◆Who is the new Chief Education Officer?谁是新的首席教育官？◆The chief financial officer of the company paid us a visit.那家公司的财务总监访问了我们。◆Detective Chief Inspector Williams侦缉总督察威廉斯ⓘ Chief is mainly used in names of positions. * chief主要用于职务名称。■leading [only before noun] most important or most successful最重要的；一流的◆She was offered the leading role in the new TV series.她获邀在那部新的电视连续剧中扮演主角。◆He's a leading business analyst.他是顶尖的商业分析员。ⓘ Leading is often used in publicity for companies that produce products or provide services. * leading常用于生产产品或提供服务的公司的宣传材料中◆a leading brand / manufacturer / supplier领先的品牌／制造商／供应商 see also prominent ⇨ famous■high [usually before noun] near the top in rank or status上层的；地位高的◆She has held high office under three prime ministers.她曾在三任首相手下任过要职。◆The case was referred to a higher court.案件被提交上级法院审理。◆He has friends in high places(= among people of power and influence).他有位高权重的朋友。ⓘ In this meaning high is used in a fairly limited range of collocations表达此义时，high仅用于有限的几种搭配◆high status / rank / position / office高的地位／等级／职位／职务and in some more particular names of very important people and things.另外也用于一些非常重要的人或机构的特定名称中◆a high court / magistrate / commissioner / priest高等法院；高级地方执法官／专员；祭司长■first
determiner
most important or best最重要的；首要的；最优秀的◆Your first duty is to your family.你首先要对家庭尽责。◆She won first prize in the competition.她在竞赛中获得头等奖。ⓘ When first means 'most important', typical collocates are duty, importance and consideration. When first means 'best in a competition', typical collocates are prize and place.当first表示“最重要”时，常见搭配词有duty、importance和consideration。当first表示“在竞争中表现最佳”时，常见搭配词有prize和place。■ˌhigh-ˈranking [usually before noun] high in rank or status; important职位高的；显要的◆He's a high-ranking officer in the army.他是部队的高级军官。◆She's been offered a high-ranking post in the police force.她获得了警察机关中的高层职位。ⓘ High-ranking is often used to talk about positions in the areas of politics and the military. Typical collocates are (army/military) officer, bureaucrat, official, and (party) member. * high-ranking常指政治和军事领域的高级职位。常见搭配词有(army/military) officer、bureaucrat、official和(party) member。■premier /ˈpremiə(r); NAmEprɪˈmɪr, prɪˈmjɪr/ [only before noun] (especiallywrittenorjournalism新闻) most important, famous or successful首要的；最著名的；一流的；顶尖的◆The new Institute of Contemporary Art is one of Boston's premier attractions.新的当代美术馆是波士顿首屈一指的旅游景点。◆ (BrE, sport体育) They've just moved up to the Premier League(= in football).他们刚刚晋级超级联赛。ⓘ Premier is often used in journalism and advertising to talk about popular and successful events or places, especially in relation to the country or place they can be found in. * premier常用于新闻和广告，谈论出名及成功的事件或地方，尤与举办国或发生地相关◆Scotland's premier resort / hotel / exhibition / tourist attraction苏格兰首屈一指的度假胜地／酒店／展览／旅游景点■foremost /ˈfɔːməʊst; NAmEˈfɔːrmoʊst/ (ratherformal, especiallywritten) most important, famous or successful; in a position at the front最重要的；最著名的；一流的；最前的◆I'd like to introduce you to the world's foremost authority on the subject.我想向你介绍该学科全世界首屈一指的权威。◆The President was foremost among those who condemned the violence.总统带头谴责暴力行为。◆This question has been foremost in our minds recently.近来我们心目中一直认为这个问题最重要。NOTE辨析 Premier or foremost?Premier is used more to describe places and events; foremost is used more to describe people. Foremost is a more formal word and suggests greater seriousness; premier suggests greater popularity. * premier多修饰地方和事件，foremost多修饰人。foremost比较正式，含意更为严肃；premier意味着更为人熟知◆the world's foremost authority on / expert on / exponent of sth某方面全世界最重要的权威／专家／倡导者◆Britain's premier chef英国名厨■superior /suːˈpɪəriə(r), sjuːˈpɪəriə(r); NAmEsuːˈpɪriər/ higher in rank or status（级别或地位）更高的◆I'll need to check with my superior officer.我需要和我的上级长官核实一下。ⓘ In this meaning, superior typically collocates with officer, status, position and power.表达此义时superior通常与officer、status、position和power搭配。OPPinferiorⓘ An inferior officer or position is lower in rank or status. * inferior指级别或地位较低的。NOTE辨析 Senior or superior?Superior is used more than senior when there is a strong sense of status in a system or organization, for example in the army. In an everyday office or work situation it is more usual to talk about a senior colleague/manager/adviser/clerk/editor/designer/teacher.在等级观念较强的系统或组织，如军队中，superior比senior更常用。在日常办公或工作场合中较常用senior，如a senior colleague/manager/adviser/clerk/editor/designer/teacher（资深同事；高级经理／顾问／文员／编辑／设计师／教师）。■elite /eɪˈliːt, ɪˈliːt/ [only before noun] powerful, and having a lot of influence, because of wealth, ability, family or business connections掌权的；上层的；社会精英的◆The secret was known only by an elite group of senior executives.那个秘密仅限于一批掌权的高级主管知晓。◆He was trained at an elite military academy.他曾在精英军事学院受训。ⓘ Elite is often used in texts relating to the army or education. * elite常用于与军队或教育有关的文字中◆elite troops / force / corps精锐部队◆an elite force / corps一支精锐部队◆an elite education / private school精英教育；英才私立学校Elite is also often used to describe a group of people who share special knowedge or secrets. * elite亦常用来修饰拥有专业知识或知晓某些秘密的群体。 see also elite ⇨ elitenoun, elitist ⇨ exclusive