adjective
1 (better) superior use fresh rather than frozen scallops as their flavour and texture is far superior There are still huge differences in the facilities available to whites and non-whites. Those in white areas are generally far superior this brand is far superior in quality You can stand there and feel superior as you point and laugh
to be superior to sth/sb ser superior a algo/algn
I have always taken the view that women are actually superior to men neither sex is superior to the other: we just have different specializations, different strengths and weaknesses: we just have different specializations, different strengths and weaknesses Germany had aircraft that were superior to anything the British or French were producing In order to take a moral point of view, it is necessary to show why one position is morally superior to the other
to be superior to sth/sb in sth superar ser superior a algo/algn en algo;or
a woman greatly superior to her husband in education and sensitivity Holland was much superior to the home team in technique and tactics to be [vastly] superior He has made a vastly superior sequel to the original film
2 (good) [+product] de primera calidad it's a very superior model es un modelo de primerísima calidad; es un modelo muy superior
The school prided itself upon providing a superior education a few years ago it was virtually impossible to find superior quality coffee in the local shops
thanks to its superior design gracias a la supremacía del diseño; a superior being un ser superior
Michael Heseltine, it was widely accepted, was a superior being
3 (senior) (in hierarchy, rank) superior Obtaining a post in a bureaucracy usually depended on appointment by a superior authority
to be superior to sb ser superior a algn
Parallel to the government you had the party leadership in every Republic and /the party chief was superior to the notional head of State/ Most Americans condemned the heresy of supposing that either state governments were superior to the federal government, or the federal to the states these matters are better left to someone superior to you
his superior officer (Mil) su superior
He was told to stand to attention before his superior officer A midshipman coolly informed a superior officer that he "had no right" to give him a particular order ...negotiations between the mutineers and their superior officers ...
4 (numerically) the air force was hardly likely to risk its aircraft against superior allied forces guerrilla tactics sometimes succeed against apparently superior forces victory is achieved by concentrating superior force at the decisive point A feeble contingent of Croatian policemen, armed only with shotguns, are preparing to make a last stand against superior forces of the Serbian militia
the enemy's superior numbers la superioridad numérica del enemigo
the demonstrators fled when they saw the authorities' superior numbers The Kurds were incapable of prevailing against the vastly superior firepower of the Iraqi army to be superior [in] number Mahmoud's men, confronted by a force superior in numbers, arms and organization, took the wisest course and bolted The Fascists advanced to meet them, superior in numbers and firepower
the enemy were superior to them in number el enemigo los superaba era superior a ellos en número;or
5 (smug) [+person] altanero; desdeñoso He remains aloof and rather superior in [personal] contact Who did Boylan think he was, to be so superior? ... Major Danby replied indulgently with a superior [smile]
[+tone, expression, smile] de superioridad; de suficiencia the tone was triumphant, sneering, superior Malcolm's tone was genuinely sad, not boastful or superior I don't know if you realize this, Thomas, but you sail through life with a very superior expression on your face
"you don't understand," Clarissa said in a superior way —tú no lo entiendes —dijo Clarissa con aire de superioridad de suficiencia;or
Jerry smiled in a superior way and said: "We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?"
6 (Téc) (upper) superior ...a point on the superior [surface] of the leaf. ...the principal vein that drains the upper portion of the body (superior vena cava)
noun
1 (in rank, organization) superior; (m) He was called to the office of a superior to be reprimanded He was extra polite to his superiors lest something adverse might be written about him. don't go giving yourself airs as if you were her superior
people he perceives as his social superiors personas que él considera de un nivel social superior
a snob is someone who grovels to those he perceives as his social superiors
2 (in ability) to be sb's superior in sth superar a algn en algo
Anthony sometime felt that his mistress was his superior in will-power Among his immediate rivals was Arnold Matters, probably his superior in comic roles
3 (Rel) superior; (m) Mother Superior madre superiora; (f)
