3 ADJ [ADJ n] First-class accommodation on a train, aeroplane, or ship is the best and most expensive type of accommodation. □ He won himself two first-class tickets to fly to Dublin. □ …first-class passengers. ● ADV [ADV after v] First-class is also an adverb. □ She had never flown first class before. ● N‑UNCOUNT First-class is the first-class accommodation on a train, aeroplane, or ship. □ He paid for and was assigned a cabin in first class.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] In Britain, first-class postage is the quicker and more expensive type of postage. In the United States, first-class postage is the type of postage that is used for sending letters and postcards. □ Two first class stamps, please. ● ADV [ADV after v] First-class is also an adverb. □ It took six days to arrive despite being posted first class.
fi rst cou s|in (first cousins ) N‑COUNT [oft with poss] Someone's first cousin is the same as their cousin . Compare second cousin .
fi rst de|gree (first degrees ) N‑COUNT People who have gained a higher qualification after completing a basic university degree such as a BA or a BSc refer to that basic degree as their first degree . □ He was born in Zimbabwe where he completed his first degree in economics.
fi rst-degree
1 ADJ [ADJ n] In the United States, first-degree is used to describe crimes that are considered to be the most serious of their kind. For example, first-degree murder is when a murder is planned before it is carried out. □ He pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree robbery.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A first-degree burn is one of the least severe kind, where only the surface layer of the skin has been burnt.
fi rst e ver also first-ever ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is the first ever one of its kind has never happened before. □ It's the first-ever meeting between leaders of the two countries.
fi rst floo r (first floors )
1 N‑COUNT The first floor of a building is the floor immediately above the one at ground level. [BRIT ] in AM, use second floor 2 N‑COUNT The first floor of a building is the one at ground level. [AM ] in BRIT, use ground floor
fi rst frui ts N‑PLURAL The first fruits of a project or activity are the earliest results or profits. □ [+ of ] The deal is one of the first fruits of a liberalization of foreign investment law.
fi rst ha nd also first-hand , firsthand
1 ADJ [ADJ n] First hand information or experience is gained or learned directly, rather than from other people or from books. □ School trips give children firsthand experience not available in the classroom. ● ADV [ADV after v] First-hand is also an adverb. □ We've been through Germany and seen first-hand what's happening there.
2 at first hand → see first
fi rst la dy (first ladies ) N‑COUNT The First Lady in a country or state is the wife of the president or state governor, or a woman who performs the official duties normally performed by the wife.
fi rst la n|guage (first languages ) N‑COUNT Someone's first language is the language that they learned first and speak best; used especially when someone speaks more than one language.
first|ly /fɜː r stli/ ADV You use firstly in speech or writing when you want to give a reason, make a point, or mention an item that will be followed by others connected with it. □ The programme is behind schedule as a result, firstly, of increased costs, then of technical problems.
Fi rst Mi n|is|ter (First Ministers ) N‑COUNT In the Scottish Assembly and the Northern Ireland Assembly, the First Minister is the leader of the ruling party.
fi rst na me (first names ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Your first name is the first of the names that were given to you when you were born. You can also refer to all of your names except your surname as your first names . □ Her first name was Mary. I don't know what her surname was. ● PHRASE If two people are on first-name terms , they know each other well enough to call each other by their first names, rather than having to use a more formal title. □ The two were said to have been on first-name terms. [Also + with ]
fi rst ni ght (first nights ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] The first night of a show, play, or performance is the first public performance of it.
fi rst of|fe nd|er (first offenders ) N‑COUNT A first offender is a person who has been found guilty of a crime for the first time.
fi rst-past-the-po st ADJ [ADJ n] A first-past-the-post system for choosing members of parliament or other representatives is one in which the candidate who gets most votes wins. [BRIT ]
fi rst pe r|son N‑SING A statement in the first person is a statement about yourself, or about yourself and someone else. The subject of a statement like this is 'I' or 'we'. □ He tells the story in the first person.
fi rst-ra te also first rate ADJ If you say that something or someone is first-rate , you mean that they are extremely good and of the highest quality. [APPROVAL ] □ People who used his service knew they were dealing with a first-rate professional.
fi rst schoo l (first schools ) N‑COUNT A first school is a school for children aged between five and eight or nine. [BRIT ]
Fi rst Se c|re|tary (First Secretaries ) N‑COUNT The First Secretary of the Welsh Assembly is the leader of the ruling party.
fi rst-ti mer (first-timers ) N‑COUNT A first-timer is someone who does something for the first time. □ She entered this year's charts faster than any first-timer before her.