super

[soo-per] /ˈsu pər/
noun
1.
Informal.
  1. a superintendent, especially of an apartment house.
  2. supermarket.
  3. supernumerary.
  4. supervisor.
2.
an article of a superior quality, grade, size, etc.
3.
(in beekeeping) the portion of a hive in which honey is stored.
4.
Printing. supercalendered paper.
5.
Television. an additional image superimposed on the original video image:
A super of the guest's name is included under the picture when the guest is introduced.
adjective
6.
of the highest degree, power, etc.
7.
of an extreme or excessive degree.
8.
Informal. very good; first-rate; excellent.
9.
(of measurement) superficial.
10.
superfine.
adverb
11.
Slang. very; extremely or excessively:
super classy; a super large portion of food.
Origin
1620-30; 1920-25 for def 8; independent use of super- (construed as an adj. or adv.), or shortening of words prefixed with it

super-

1.
a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, with the basic meaning “above, beyond.” Words formed with super-, have the following general senses: “to place or be placed above or over” (superimpose; supersede), “a thing placed over or added to another” (superscript; superstructure; supertax), “situated over” (superficial; superlunary) and, more figuratively, “an individual, thing, or property that exceeds customary norms or levels” (superalloy; superconductivity; superman; superstar), “an individual or thing larger, more powerful, or with wider application than others of its kind” (supercomputer; superhighway; superpower; supertanker), “exceeding the norms or limits of a given class” (superhuman; superplastic), “having the specified property to a great or excessive degree” (supercritical; superfine; supersensitive), “to subject to (a physical process) to an extreme degree or in an unusual way” (supercharge; supercool; supersaturate), “a category that embraces a number of lesser items of the specified kind” (superfamily; supergalaxy), “a chemical compound with a higher proportion than usual of a given constituent” (superphosphate).
Origin
< Latin super (preposition and v. prefix) above, beyond, in addition, to an especially high degree; akin to Greek hypér (see hyper-), Sanskrit upari; see over

super.

1.
superintendent.
2.
superior.
Examples from the web for super
  • We're quickly headed toward a future in which college students will either be super achievers or unprepared for the workplace.
  • It somehow never occurred to me that super saturation could depress the melting point.
  • His objective was to display diatoms in a modern way using super contrast and careful application of color.
  • It's super easy and there are a million reasons to do it.
  • For a crowd, consider a party-size super sundae that will please everyone.
  • Good that it's so sturdy, because it's a super seasoning, versatile and unique.
  • Other than that, super article sure brings back memories.
  • Traveling by train is super easy if you're going where it goes since there's a station at the airport.
  • Water vapor tends to become super cooled since water vapor molecules rise continuously in air.
  • They are known for their colorful feathers and super smarts.
British Dictionary definitions for super

super

/ˈsuːpə/
adjective
1.
(informal) outstanding; exceptionally fine
noun
2.
petrol with a high octane rating
3.
(informal) a superintendent or supervisor
4.
(Austral & NZ, informal) superannuation benefits
5.
(Austral & NZ, informal) superphosphate
interjection
6.
(Brit, informal) an enthusiastic expression of approval or assent
Word Origin
from Latin: above

super-

prefix
1.
placed above or over: superscript
2.
of greater size, extent, quality, etc: supermarket
3.
surpassing others; outstanding: superstar
4.
beyond a standard or norm; exceeding or exceedingly: supersonic
5.
indicating that a chemical compound contains a specified element in a higher proportion than usual: superoxide
Word Origin
from Latin super above
Word Origin and History for super
adj.

"first-rate, excellent," 1837, from prefix in superfine (1682), denoting "highest grade of goods," from Latin super "above, over, beyond" (see super-). Extended usage as a general term of approval is 1895 slang, revived 1960s. Rhyming reduplication form super-duper first attested 1940.

super-

word-forming element from Latin adverb and preposition super "above, over, on the top (of), beyond, besides, in addition to," from PIE *uper "over" (cf. Sanskrit upari, Avestan upairi "over, above, beyond," Greek hyper, Old English ofer "over," Gothic ufaro "over, across," Gaulish ver-, Old Irish for), comparative of root *upo "under."

super in Medicine

super- pref.

  1. Above; over; upon: superstructure.

  2. Superior in size, quality, number, or degree: supersonic.

  3. Exceeding a norm: supersaturate.

  4. Excessive in degree or intensity: superexcitation.

  5. Containing a specified ingredient in an unusually high proportion: superoxide.

Slang definitions & phrases for super

super 1

noun

A superintendent, esp one who is custodian of an apartment building (1857+)


super 2

adjective

Wonderful; excellent; very superior: America's Teenage Girls Speak Language of Their Own That Is Too Divinely Super

[1895+; perhaps fr superior or superfine; revitalized in the 1960s]


super

-prefix

used to form adjectives Having the indicated quality to an extraordinary degree: superhappy/ superwonky

prefix

used to form nouns A superbly qualified and prodigious specimen of what is indicated: superjerk/ superjock/ superchick/ Supermom

[1930s+; noun prefix stimulated from 1938 by the comic-book character Superman]


super in Technology


The successor to LOGLISP, based on LNF.
["New Generation Knowledge Processing: Final Report on the SUPER System", J Alan Robinson et al, CASE Center TR 8707, Syracuse U, 1987].
(1994-11-24)

Related Abbreviations for super

super

  1. superintendent
  2. supernumerary

super.

superior