an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone | the service (electric power or water or transportation) provided by a public utility |
(music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound) | a facility composed of one or more pieces of equipment connected to or part of a structure and designed to provide a service such as heat or electricity or water or sewage disposal |
a degree or grade of excellence or worth | the quality of being of practical use |
a characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something | (computer science) a program designed for general support of the processes of a computer |
high social status | a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation |
| (economics) a measure that is to be maximized in any situation involving choice |