Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - choose

(chooses, choosing, chose, chosen) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If you choose someone or something from several people or things that are available, you decide which person or thing you want to have. They will be able to choose their own leaders in democratic elections... This week he has chosen Peter Mandelson to replace Mo Mowlam... There are several patchwork cushions to choose from... Houston was chosen as the site for the convention... He did well in his chosen profession. = select VERB: V n, V n to-inf, V from/between n, be V-ed as n, V-ed, also V n as n, V 2. If you choose to do something, you do it because you want to or because you feel that it is right. They knew that discrimination was going on, but chose to ignore it... You can just take out the interest each year, if you choose. VERB: V to-inf, V 3. If there is little to choose between people or things or nothing to choose between them, it is difficult to decide which is better or more suitable. (mainly BRIT) There is very little to choose between the world’s top tennis players. PHRASE: v-link PHR 4. The chosen few are a small group who are treated better than other people. You sometimes use this expression when you think this is unfair. Learning should no longer be an elitist pastime for the chosen few. = elite PHRASE 5. to pick and choose: see pick