best

from The Century Dictionary.

• To get the better of; outdo; surpass.
• To overreach or outwit: as, to best a client.
• To defeat in a contest; do better than; beat; hence, in pugilism, to thrash soundly; drub; defeat at fisticuffs.
• In the most excellent or most suitable manner; with most advantage or success: as, he who runs best gets the prize; the best-behaved boy in the school; the best-cultivated fields.
• In or to the highest degree; to the fullest extent; most fully: as, those who know him best speak highly of him; those best informed say so; the best-abused man in town.
• Of the highest quality, excellence, or standing: said of both persons and things in regard to mental, moral, or physical qualities, whether inherent or acquired: as, the best writers and speakers; the best families; the best judgment; the best years of one's life; a house built of the best materials.
• Of greatest advantage, usefulness, or suitability for the purpose intended; most advantageous, suitable, appropriate, or desirable: as, the best man for the place; the best way to do anything.
• Most kind, beneficent, or good: applied to persons: as, the best husband imaginable; which of your brothers is best to you?
• Largest; greatest; most: as, we spent the best part of three days in getting there.
• noun The highest possible state of excellence; the best quality or property of a person or thing.
• noun All that one can do, or show in one's self: often used in this sense with the possessive pronouns my, thy, his, their, etc.: as, I will do my best to advance your interests; she is bent on looking her best; he did all he could to appear at his best in that performance.
• noun The best. The best people collectively; those of the highest standing in any respect, but especially socially or intellectually.
• noun The best things, or a thing of the best quality: as, he always buys the best; dressed in one's best.
• noun Often used in speaking of things or events that are not so good or favorable as was expected or was to be wished: as, to make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain.
• Specifically, noting a certain grade of wrought-iron, which is generally divided into four grades: crown, best, best best, and best best best or treble best.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• transitive verb colloq. To get the better of.
• adjective Having good qualities in the highest degree; most good, kind, desirable, suitable, etc.; most excellent.
• adjective Most advanced; most correct or complete.
• adjective Most; largest.
• adjective the only or principal groomsman at a wedding ceremony.
• In the highest degree; beyond all others.
• To the most advantage; with the most success, case, profit, benefit, or propriety.
• Most intimately; most thoroughly or correctly.
• noun Utmost; highest endeavor or state; most nearly perfect thing, or being, or action.
• noun in the utmost degree or extent applicable to the case; under the most favorable circumstances; as, life is at best very short.
• noun [Obs.] finally.
• noun to gain an advantage over, whether fairly or unfairly.
• noun To reduce to the least possible inconvenience; as, to make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• adjective superlative form of good: most good.
• adverb superlative form of well: most well.
• noun uncountable The supreme effort one can make
• noun countable The person (or persons) who is (are) most excellent.
• verb transitive To beat in a contest; to surpass in skill or achievement.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• adjective (comparative and superlative of `well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable
• adjective (superlative of `good') having the most positive qualities
• adverb from a position of superiority or authority
• verb get the better of
• adverb it would be sensible
• noun the person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others
• noun Canadian physiologist (born in the United States) who assisted F. G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin (1899-1978)
• adverb in a most excellent way or manner
• noun the supreme effort one can make