selection - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
selection Word Meanings
- the act of choosing something
- a set of items that have been chosen
- the process of making a choice
selection Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
selection Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/sɪˈlɛkʃən/
US
/sɪˈlɛkʃən/
selection Word Etymology
select + ion. Latin `seligere` (to choose) → Old French `selection` → English. Imagine a person in a store meticulously choosing a specific item from a variety of options.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I reach for a stack of cards and move one card aside, watching it slide into a new line of options. I press a button and turn the page, and with that turn the choices seem to reframe themselves. The act of selecting feels like a small push and hold of attention, shaping what stays and what goes. In real use, I set the chosen item apart, keep it in view, and let the rest fade away.
Real Context
Selection can refer to the act of choosing one or more items from a group, or to the set of items that have been chosen. It is often used for curated outcomes, such as a restaurant's wine selection or a retailer's gift-card selection. The word carries a sense of judgment and taste, implying care, criteria, and sometimes exclusivity. In academic or professional contexts, a selection may be the resulting subset of data, candidates, or features chosen after evaluation. From its Latin roots seligere, selection underscores a deliberate process rather than a random pick; it can also describe a physical collection formed by careful picking.
Usage Reminders
- Use selection for a deliberate choice or a curated group of items.
- Distinguish selection (noun) from select (verb) or select (adjective) in context.
- Note collocations: 'carefully curated selection', 'a wide selection of'.
- In data or research, 'selection' refers to the chosen subset or sample.
- Avoid using selection when you mean 'to choose' as a verb; use select or choose instead.
Common Misconceptions
- Selection means choosing a single item every time.
- Selection is only used in elections.
- Selection implies randomness or luck.
- Selection is a verb; you should say 'to select' instead of 'selection'.
- Selection cannot refer to data subsets or curated lists.
Thinking Differences
English uses selection as a flexible noun for both process and result, with common collocations that signal curation or a subset. Learners often treat it like a simple synonym for 'choice' or confuse it with the verb 'to select'.
Learning Tips
- Memorize both senses (process and result) of selection.
- Use collocations like 'carefully curated selection' to sound natural.
- Differentiate noun selection from verb to select.
- Practice with data contexts: 'selection of a subset' or 'filtered selection'.
- Compare with synonyms like choice and pick to feel nuance.
- Notice spelling and pronunciation in rapid speech.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 2: Usage
How is the word 'selection' used in a sentence?
A.I selection to stay home and watch movies.
B.He was selection in his decision-making process.
C.They selection to go to the beach for their holiday.
D.She had a wide selection of books to choose from at the library.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which of the following words is most similar to 'selection'?
A.Variety
B.Unchanged
C.Few
D.Strong
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'selection'?
A.Exclusion
B.Similarity
C.Plentiful
D.Multiple
Step 5: Mastery
Can you give an example of 'selection' in a real-life context?
A.Singing in a choir
B.Washing dishes
C.Walking a dog
D.Choosing toppings for a pizza
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
🔥 Advanced
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