selectivity
/sɪlɛkˈtɪvɪti
/ /sɛlɛkˈtɪvɪti/ /siːlɛkˈtɪvɪti/noun [mass noun]
1The quality of carefully choosing someone or something as the best or most suitable: provision is organized on the principle of selectivity...
- Those unfamiliar with these significant changes in institutional wealth, selectivity, student quality, and academic research will benefit greatly from this book.
- As demonstrated, it has carved out for itself a leadership role that sought to square one particular circle, namely the reconciliation of the need for legitimacy, with a unilateral right to apply a principle of selectivity.
- Unilever has applied the principle of brand selectivity on a much grander scale.
1.1The property of affecting some things and not others: proteins capable of binding hydrophobic molecules with high affinity and selectivity...
- Biocontrol agents are chosen specifically for their selectivity, so they cannot be expected to control a complex of weeds effectively.
- It seems appropriate in this connection to analyze selectivity as a characteristic of weapon systems.
- Non-lethal weapons have inherent characteristics of precision effects, selectivity of engagement, and versatility.
1.2 Electronics The ability of a device to respond to a particular frequency without interference from others: reception ratings are based on measurements of sensitivity and selectivity...
- Although the hair cell's electrical resonance and frequency selectivity are well understood, a problem remains.
- This electromechanical behavior enhances the amplitude of vibration and sharpens the frequency selectivity of the cochlear partition in response to sound.
- The sharp frequency selectivity of auditory nerve fiber responses to sound is a hallmark of vertebrate cochlear function.