hi gh-cla ss ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as high-class , you mean that it is of very good quality or of superior social status. □ …a high-class jeweller's.
hi gh com|ma nd (high commands ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] The high command is the group that consists of the most senior officers in a nation's armed forces.
Hi gh Com|mi s|sion (High Commissions ) N‑COUNT A High Commission is the office where a High Commissioner and his or her staff work, or the group of officials who work there.
Hi gh Com|mi s|sion|er (High Commissioners )
1 N‑COUNT A High Commissioner is a senior representative who is sent by one Commonwealth country to live in another in order to work as an ambassador.
2 N‑COUNT A High Commissioner is the head of an international commission. □ [+ for ] …the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Hi gh Cou rt (High Courts ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] In England and Wales, the High Court is a court of law which deals with very serious or important cases.
hi ^gh-defi|ni ^tion also high definition ADJ [usu ADJ n] High-definition television or technology is a digital system that gives a much clearer picture than traditional television systems. □ …jokes about wrinkles and high-definition TV. ● N‑UNCOUNT High definition is also a noun. □ These games are more popular now that they are available in high definition.
hi gh-end ADJ High-end products, especially electronic products, are the most expensive of their kind. □ …high-end personal computers and computer workstations.
high|er /ha I ə r /
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A higher degree or diploma is a qualification of an advanced standard or level. □ …a higher diploma in hotel management.
2 → see also high
hi gh|er edu|ca |tion ◆◇◇ N‑UNCOUNT Higher education is education at universities and colleges.
hi gher-u p (higher-ups ) N‑COUNT A higher-up is an important person who has a lot of authority and influence. [AM , INFORMAL ] in BRIT, use high-up
hi gh ex|plo |sive (high explosives ) N‑VAR High explosive is an extremely powerful explosive substance.
high|fa|lu|tin /ha I fəluː t I n/ ADJ People sometimes use highfalutin to describe something that they think is being made to sound complicated or important in order to impress people. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED , DISAPPROVAL ] □ This isn't highfalutin art-about-art. It's marvellous and adventurous stuff.
hi gh fi ve (high fives ) also high-five N‑COUNT If you give someone a high five , you put your hand up and hit their open hand with yours, especially after a victory or as a greeting.
hi gh-fli er → see high-flyer
hi gh-flo wn ADJ [usu ADJ n] High-flown language is very grand, formal, or literary. [DISAPPROVAL ]
hi gh-fly er (high-flyers ) also high flyer , high-flier N‑COUNT A high-flyer is someone who has a lot of ability and is likely to be very successful in their career.
hi gh-fly ing ADJ [usu ADJ n] A high-flying person is successful or is likely to be successful in their career. □ …a high-flying management consultant.
hi gh grou nd
1 N‑SING If a person or organization has the high ground in an argument or dispute, that person or organization has an advantage. [JOURNALISM ] □ The President must seek to regain the high ground in the political debate.
2 PHRASE If you say that someone has taken the moral high ground , you mean that they consider that their policies and actions are morally superior to the policies and actions of their rivals. □ The Republicans took the moral high ground with the message that they were best equipped to manage the authority.
hi gh-ha nded ADJ If you say that someone is high-handed , you disapprove of them because they use their authority in an unnecessarily forceful way without considering other people's feelings. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He wants to be seen as less bossy and high-handed. ● high-handedness N‑UNCOUNT □ They have been accused of secrecy and high-handedness in their dealings.
hi gh-hee led ADJ [ADJ n] High-heeled shoes are women's shoes that have high heels.
hi gh hee ls N‑PLURAL You can refer to high-heeled shoes as high heels .
hi gh-i mpact
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] High-impact exercise puts a lot of stress on your body. □ …high-impact aerobics.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] High-impact materials are very strong. □ The durable high-impact plastic case is water resistant to 100 feet.
hi gh jinks N‑UNCOUNT [with sing or pl verb] High jinks is lively, excited behaviour in which people do things for fun. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ]
hi gh jump N‑SING The high jump is an athletics event which involves jumping over a raised bar.
high|lands /ha I ləndz/ N‑PLURAL Highlands are mountainous areas of land.
hi gh life N‑SING You use the high life to refer to an exciting and luxurious way of living that involves a great deal of entertainment, going to parties, and eating good food. □ …the Hollywood high life.
high|light ◆◇◇ /ha I la I t/ (highlights , highlighting , highlighted )
1 VERB If someone or something highlights a point or problem, they emphasize it or make you think about it. □ [V n] Two events have highlighted the tensions in recent days.
2 VERB To highlight a piece of text means to mark it in a different colour, either with a special type of pen or on a computer screen. □ [V n] …the relevant maps with the route highlighted in yellow.
3 N‑COUNT The highlights of an event, activity, or period of time are the most interesting or exciting parts of it. □ [+ of ] …a match that is likely to prove one of the highlights of the tournament.