selective

Everyday

1. Selective means choosing carefully, only taking some things and not others. tree →
2. A selective school only takes pupils who pass a test or meet certain standards. tree →
3. Selective can mean affecting only some things: a selective weedkiller kills weeds but not grass. tree →
4. «Selective hearing» or «a selective memory» jokingly means only hearing or remembering what you want to. tree →

In the lessons

School: in the UK, grammar schools are selective schools that take pupils after the 11-plus test. Science: selective breeding means choosing which animals or plants have young so good features are passed on (like dog breeds or bigger crops). Everyday: being selective about what you eat or watch. Phrases: «selective breeding», «selective school», «selective hearing».

Examples

• Farmers used selective breeding to make cows give more milk. tree →
• She is very selective about which books she reads. tree →
• My brother has selective hearing when it is time to tidy up. tree →
• It is a selective school, so you have to sit an exam. tree →
• The gardener used a selective weedkiller on the lawn. tree →
• Be selective with your photos and only share the best ones. tree →
• Cats can be selective eaters. tree →

Note

Adjective; adverb is «selectively», noun «selection», verb «select». In science, selective breeding (done by people) is different from natural selection (done by nature, without anyone choosing).