Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - choice

~1 n 1 »ABILITY TO CHOOSE« the right to choose or the chance to choose between several things  (Nowadays both men and women are able to exercise choice as to whom they marry.) + between  (a genuinely free choice between candidates) + of  (a choice of accommodation) have a choice (=be able to choose) | give sb a choice  (I'll give you a choice - we can go to the movies or out for a meal. | have no choice (=be forced to do something because it is the only thing you can do))  (I had to go back. I was short of money and had no choice. | leave sb with no choice (=be forced to do something because it is the only thing you can do))  (He was left with no choice but to resign.) 2 »ACT OF CHOOSING« the act of choosing something  (The board denied that financial considerations had influenced their choice.) + of  (Alf left the choice of where they would go to Jenny.) make a choice (=choose)  (You should find out more before making your final choice.) 3 »RANGE TO CHOOSE FROM« the range of people or things that you can choose from  (There's a small general store in town, but I don't think there will be much choice.) + of  (There is a choice of dozens of magazines aimed at women readers.) have a choice  (In your exam you will have a choice of five questions.) 4 »THING CHOSEN« C usually singular the person or thing that someone has chosen  (The choices you make now will affect you for many years.) + of  (The choice of Cannes as the venue for the conference was inspired.) first/second etc choice  (Italy was our second choice - all the flights to Greece were booked up.) 5 »THING YOU MAY CHOOSE« one of several things that you can choose  (The computer will show you several search choices.) 6 of your choice chosen by you without anything limiting what you can choose from  (Chill and serve with the garnishes of your choice.) 7 by choice if you do something by choice, you do it because you want to do it and not because you are forced to do it  (The government has claimed that many people are homeless by choice.) 8 the drug/treatment/newspaper etc of choice the thing that a certain group of people prefer to use  (It is the drug of choice for this type of illness.)  (- see also choose, Hobson's choice) ~2 adj 1 formal of a very high quality or standard, used especially of food  (choice apples | a choice collection of antique books) 2 choice meat, especially beef1 (1), is of a standard that is good but not the best  (choice steak) 3 a few choice words/phrases if you use a few choice words, you say exactly what you mean in an angry way  (He dismissed the objection in a few choice words.)