1.an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone;
the quality of mercy is not strained--Shakespeare
2.a degree or grade of excellence or worth;
the quality of students has risen
3.a characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something;
each town has a quality all its own
4.(music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound);
the timbre of her soprano was rich and lovely
5.high social status;
a man of quality
6.of superior grade;
choice wines
7.of high social status;
people of quality