selected

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

se•lect /sɪˈlɛkt/  v. [~ + object]

1. to choose in preference;
   pick:
   Only the best students were selected for admission.

adj. 

2. chosen in preference;
   preferred;
   choice:
   [before a noun] a select group of skaters.
3. exclusive;
   limited to only a few:
   a select group of advisors.
4. careful in choosing:
   a select college.

se•lec•tor, n. [countable] See -lec-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

se•lect  (si lekt′), v.t. 

1. to choose in preference to another or others;
   pick out.

v.i. 

2. to make a choice;
   pick.

adj. 

3. chosen in preference to another or others;
   selected.
4. choice;
   of special value or excellence.
5. careful or fastidious in selecting;
   discriminating.
6. carefully or fastidiously chosen;
   exclusive:
   a select group of friends.

• Latin sēlēctus (past participle of sēligere to gather apart), equivalent. to sē- se- + leg(ere) to gather, choose + -tus past participle suffix
• 1555–65

se•lec′ta•ble, adj. 
se•lec′ta•bil′i•ty, n. 
se•lect′ly, adv. 
se•lect′ness, n. 
se•lec′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See choose. 
• 3. preferred.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

select / sɪˈlɛkt/ verb

1. to choose (someone or something) in preference to another or others

adjective

1. also: selected chosen in preference to another or others
2. of particular quality or excellence
3. limited as to membership or entry: a select gathering

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin sēligere to sort, from sē- apart + legere to choose

seˈlectness noun