First-rate /(fẽrst"rāt`)/

First·-rate

First-rate

a.
  1. Of the highest excellence; preëminent in quality, size, or estimation.
    Our only first-rate body of contemporary poetry is the German.
    Hermocrates . . . a man of first-rate ability.
    — Jowett (Thucyd).

First-rate

n.
  1. A war vessel of the highest grade or the most powerful class. (Naut.)

first-rate

adj.
  1. of the highest quality; as, a first-rate reporter.