supergroupn.
/ˈsuːpəɡruːp/, /ˈsjuːpəɡruːp/, U.S. /ˈsupərˌɡrup/ 1. A group comprising several related groups. Cf. earlier subgroup n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > [noun] > a kind, sort, or class > a number of things classed together > composed of other groups
supergroup1875
1875 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 273 The practical utility of such ‘super’ groups would be questioned by some naturalists.
1943 M. Schlauch Gift of Tongues 63 Finno-Ugric and Nenets..together form a super-group.
1969 Proc. Geol. Soc. Aug. 145 A supergroup consists of two or more adjacent and naturally related or associated groups.
1988 P. Cloud Oasis in Space vii. 157/2 The complexly deformed deposits of the Barberton region comprise a dozen named geological formations in three groups, together comprising the Swaziland Supergroup.
2004 J. Bennett & S. D. M. Rowley Uqalurait xxiv. 341 The Amitturmiut [people] were in fact a supergroup consisting of five or more small..groups.
2. Telecommunications. An assembly of sixty voice channels on a single transmission band, formed by the combination of five groups each containing twelve voice channels. Cf. mastergroup n. at master n.1 and adj. Compounds 6.
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1934 Bell Syst. Techn. Jrnl. 13 676 In some experiments along this line a ‘super-group’ of 60 channels, or five 12-channel groups, has been chosen.
1969 J. Martin Telecommunications & Computer xvi. 295 Five channel groups are multiplexed to form a supergroup. This occupies frequencies 312 to 552 kilohertz.
1986 R. L. Brewster Telecommunications Technol. iv. 56 To obtain a 60-channel ‘super-group’, five basic groups are single-side-band amplitude modulated onto carriers spaced at 48 kHz intervals from 420 kHz to 612 kHz.
2002 P. Catala in J. D. Gibson Communicat. Handbk. (ed. 2) 22-4 This also provides 900 channels but bypasses the mastergroup level by directly combining 15 supergroups.
3. An exceptionally successful or talented rock group, esp. one formed by musicians already famous from playing in other groups.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > instrumentalist > company of instrumentalists > [noun] > small band or pop group
group1927
combination1928
combo1935
skiffle group1953
pop group1963
supergroup1968
rap group1969
garage band1974
hair band1989
popular beat combo1990
covers band1991
1968 Billboard 6 July 83/3 Streaking into the Top 10 is the Cream, the run-away British super-group whose two previous LPs leap-frogged to the top of the charts.
1976 Sounds 11 Dec. I can only hope and pray that..two supergroups will emerge, but they have one hell of a name to live up to.
1980 Washington Post 4 Dec. d9 Last night, The Police filled a packed Warner Theater with a lithe, sensual and utterly danceable brand of rock that is going to propel them to supergroup status in the next few years.
2004 N.Y. Mag. 22 Aug. 181/2 Supergroups usually carry an unbearable payload of ego and turn out to be less than the sum of their parts.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1875