quality

Universal Words noun, adjective noun (plural qualities) 1 [U,C] the standard of sth when it is compared to other things like it; how good or bad sth is: to be of good / poor / top quality * goods of a high quality * high-quality goods * a decline in water / air quality * When costs are cut product quality suffers. * Their quality of life improved dramatically when they moved to France. 2 [U] a high standard: contemporary writers of quality * We aim to provide quality at reasonable prices. * Get it right, even if it takes time; it's quality not quantity that matters. 3 [C] a thing that is part of a person's character, especially sth good: personal qualities such as honesty and generosity * to lack / possess leadership qualities * She has all the qualities of a good teacher. * It's hard to find people with the right qualities for the job. 4 [C,U] a feature of sth, especially one that makes it different from sth else: the special quality of light and shade in her paintings * His voice has a rich, melodic quality. 5 [C] (BrE) = QUALITYNEWSPAPER adjective 1 [onlybeforenoun] used especially by people trying to sell goods or services to say that sth is of a high quality: We specialize in quality furniture. * quality service at a competitive price 2 (BrE, slang) very good: 'What was the film like?' 'Quality!'