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first

1 7.7

A top university degree given in Britain

noun
/fɜːst/

: grado de primera clase

Firsts rated many of these items differently than non-firsts.
many firsts
firsts at college
twice as many firsts

Examples

Granted, firsts are always important and great for the people who achieve them, and she should be proud.

Blog text (7)
Gary took two firsts and a second.
At Cambridge, Empson won firsts in mathematics and English.

Academic text (2009)
Thus, the sample size was reduced to 3,405 students, with 40.9% (n = 1,393) firsts and 59.1% (n = 2,012) nonfirsts.

Academic text (1999)
At Cambridge, Empson won firsts in mathematics and English.
Brewer, who died at age 78 in 1975, achieved a number of firsts in his field.

Synonyms

first class

vsfirst

3 3.2

The highest rank or grade given for very good work

refers specifically to the top honours undergraduate degree in Britain

first-class honours degree

vsfirst

1 6.3

A university undergraduate degree given to students with the highest grades

is the same but specifically an honours degree in British universities

Idioms

at first

984 1.0

In the beginning before things change

first of all

890 1.0

To say the first or most important point at the start of a talk

in the first place

551 3.4

To give the main or first reason

at first sight

78 3.3

When you first see something and notice or feel something right away

first off

Informal

77 2.8

To say something before you do anything else

first up

Informal

52 3.7

To say which person or thing comes first

love at first sight

36 3.4

A strong feeling for someone the first time you see them

at first glance

32 3.5

You notice something before you look more closely

on the first try

7 3.1

Succeeding the first time you try something

to cast the first stone

Literature

6 7.7

To be the first to criticize someone when you have the same fault

to get to first base

Informal

4 7.7

To make the first real progress in work or a relationship

at first blush

3 6.8

When you first look at something, it seems right before you check details

first come, first served

3 3.2

People are helped in the order they arrive with no exceptions

to shoot first and ask questions later

Informal

3 8.4

Act quickly without thinking or checking facts

first among equals

Formal

2 7.3

The most important person in a group of people who have the same position

first blush

Informal

1 6.6

An early opinion before careful thought

first port of call

1 3.9

The first place you go to for help or information

not (one's) first rodeo

Informal

1 9.9

Experienced and not new to a task or situation

of the first water

Archaic

1 9.9

Of very high quality, like the best examples

at first hand

1 3.5

Directly from the person, place, or event involved

feet first

Informal

1 5.3

Entering a new situation eagerly and without hesitation

first and last

Formal

1 5.3

In a way that shows something is most important

to go with one's first instinct

Informal

1 5.3

Decide using your first feeling instead of thinking too much

on first-name terms

1 4.3

People are friendly and call each other by their first names

to play first fiddle

Informal

1 7.3

To lead a group or activity as the most important person

first and last of its kind

8.5

A unique thing or event that will never happen again

first of never

Informal

9.9

People say this to show that something will not happen

jewel of the first water

Archaic

9.9

A person or thing of the very highest quality

scholar of the first water

Archaic

9.9

A very respected expert with deep knowledge of a subject

Compounds

first time

∞ 1.0

An occasion when someone does or experiences something they have not done before

first lady

379 3.0

The wife of a president or other top government leader

first place

343 2.1

The top position in a competition or race

first step

281 1.4

The first action you take to begin something

first name

178 1.0

A name given at birth used before the family name

first-year

170 3.0

A person who started school, college, or a job this year

first person

135 1.6

The pronoun and verb form a speaker uses to talk about themselves like I and we

first round

131 2.5

The first set of matches in a competition where all players or teams play

first half

126 1.0

The first period of a game when play is split into two equal parts

First Amendment

116 4.0

An amendment to the U.S. Constitution that protects freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and the right to petition

first floor

65 1.1

The floor at ground level in American English and the floor above the ground floor in British English

first aid

61 2.0

Help given quickly to a sick or injured person before a doctor arrives

first class

53 3.4

The most comfortable and expensive seats on a plane, train, or ship

first-rate

49 3.8

Very high quality or done very well

first-class

49 3.4

Of the highest quality and very good

first love

43 3.2

The first person you have strong romantic feelings for

first class

35 3.7

In the most comfortable and expensive way when you travel

first light

34 1.7

The time in the morning when the sky starts to get bright

first prize

32 1.0

The top award given to the winner in a competition

first degree

Specialized

31 6.7

An equation or polynomial with no power higher than one

first-aid kit

30 1.8

A box or bag with bandages and medicine to treat injuries

first team

27 3.3

The main college or university sports team made of the best players

first appearance

27 3.5

The first time a person or thing is seen in public, often in a new role

First World War

24 2.8

A large war in Europe from 1914 to 1918 between many countries, also called World War I

first attempt

23 1.9

A first try to do something new

first clue

20 2.3

An early sign that helps you notice or find something

first quarter

Specialized

20 3.2

The time when the Moon looks half lit about one week after the new moon

first baseman

18 3.6

A player at first base who catches throws to get runners out

first cousin

17 1.0

A child of your aunt or uncle who shares a grandparent with you

first birthday

16 1.0

A party to celebrate a child's first year

first mate

Specialized

15 5.0

An officer just below the captain in charge of the crew and deck work

first period

15 2.0

The first part of the playing time in a game, for example in hockey or basketball

first base

14 3.1

A player who stands at first base to catch throws and get runners out

first trimester

Specialized

14 3.1

The first three months of pregnancy when the baby starts to grow

first language

12 2.2

The language a person learns from birth and speaks at home

first base

12 2.4

The first of four points on the field that a runner must touch to score

first class

9 2.2

A mail service that gives letters and small packages faster delivery

first base

Informal

8 4.4

An early step toward reaching a goal

first sergeant

Jargon

8 7.7

A senior soldier who helps manage a company and handles records and daily tasks

first principles

Formal

7 5.8

Basic ideas and facts that form the foundation of a subject

first-string

5 6.0

A main player who regularly starts games and is not a substitute

first strike

NSFW

4 8.6

A surprise attack with nuclear weapons to destroy an enemy's ability to fight back

sergeant first class

Specialized

4 5.5

A senior Army soldier who leads and trains other soldiers

first hurdle

4 4.1

The first problem you must solve to start a task

first lieutenant

Jargon

4 5.3

A military officer who is one rank below a captain

first-time caller

4 3.7

A person who calls a radio or TV show for the first time

first class

3 3.2

The highest rank or grade given for very good work

first symptom

3 3.3

The earliest sign that shows you have an illness

first gear

3 2.8

A gear in a car that makes the car move slowly when you start

first reading

Formal

3 6.2

Members of parliament read a bill for the first time before full debate

first lady

3 3.5

A very famous and respected woman in a field like music or theatre

first frost

3 3.5

The first time in a season when a thin layer of ice forms on plants overnight

first offender

3 4.4

A person found guilty of a crime for the first time

first strike

Specialized

3 5.0

An attack launched early to stop a threat that is about to happen, for example in war or computer attacks

first commandment

2 6.8

The most important rule to follow in a group or activity

first mortgage

Specialized

2 5.1

A loan on a house that must be paid before other loans if the owner cannot pay

first cause

Formal

2 9.9

A being or force believed to be the original reason everything exists and was not made by anything

first-aid station

2 3.4

A place where people get quick medical help before hospital care

first-place finish

2 3.5

Winning a race or contest by coming first

first gentleman

Formal

1 7.2

Husband of a woman leader who acts as the official host at state events

first-class mail

Formal

1 2.2

A fast mail service for letters and small packages that is delivered before other mail

First Crusade

1 9.9

A military campaign by Western European Christians from 1096 to 1099 to capture Jerusalem, creating states ruled by Western Christians

first moment

Specialized

1 7.2

The average of a set of numbers that you get by adding them and dividing by how many there are

first-degree burn

Specialized

1 3.4

A mild injury to the top layer of the skin that causes redness and pain without blisters

First of May

1 3.8

A holiday on 1 May that celebrates spring festivals and workers

first law of thermodynamics

Specialized

1 4.5

Total energy in a place where nothing enters or leaves stays the same while it changes form

first loser

Informal

1 7.9

A person or team that finishes second in a competition

first-time user

1 2.8

A person using something for the first time

first-rate education

1 3.7

A high quality school or university training that gives strong knowledge and skills

Newton's first law

Specialized

1 4.1

An object stays still or keeps moving at the same speed and direction unless a force acts on it

First Amendment to the United States Constitution

Formal

1 3.3

A law that protects freedom of speech, religion, the press, assembly, and petition

first derivative

Specialized

1 7.9

How fast one value changes compared with another at a particular point

first law of motion

Specialized

1 4.1

An object stays still or keeps moving at the same speed and direction unless a force acts on it

How Good

first

1 7.7

second class

1 3.8

third

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

first singular

firsts plural

Etymology

The degree called a first is short for first-class and comes from the old English fyrst meaning 'before' or 'most important'. So a first is the highest honour because it stands 'before' other classes.