Толковый словарь английского языка

[Word Family: noun: ↑selection, ↑selector, ↑selectivity; verb: ↑select; adverb: ↑selectively; adjective: ↑selective]

to choose something or someone by thinking carefully about which is the best, most suitable etc SYN choose, pick:

a group of students selected at random

select somebody for something

He had hopes of being selected for the national team.

select somebody/something as something

York was selected as the site for the research centre.

select somebody/something from something

They selected the winner from six finalists.

select somebody to do something

Simon’s been selected to go to the conference.

REGISTER

In everyday English, people usually say choose rather than select:

▪ They chose the winner from six finalists.

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THESAURUS

▪ choose to decide which one of several things you want: I chose a black dress. | Which dessert should I choose?

▪ pick to choose something, especially without thinking carefully. Pick is more informal than choose: Pick any number from one to ten.

▪ select formal to choose something, especially after thinking carefully: The committee will meet to select a new chairman. | All our instructors are carefully selected.

▪ opt for/go for to choose one thing instead of another: Many car buyers opt for used vehicles. | I think I’ll go for the chocolate cake.

▪ decide on to choose something from many possible things, especially when the decision has been difficult or taken a long time: Thomas had decided on a career as a writer.

▪ single out to choose one person or thing from a group because they are better, worse, more important etc than the others: Why should he be singled out for special treatment? | One student was singled out for special attention.

▪ take your pick especially spoken to choose anything you want, especially when there are many different things available: You can take your pick from Bodrum’s many bars and restaurants.

[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: past participle of seligere 'to select', from legere 'to gather, choose']

1. a select group of people or things is a small special group that has been chosen carefully:

The party was small and select.

Honorary degrees are handed out to a select few.

2. only lived in, visited, or used by a small number of rich people SYN exclusive:

a select block of flats