steps; rank; social class
Meanings
3 senses · 8 examplesnoun
steps; flight of stairs
literaryClassical/literary usage; not common in modern speech. Refers to stone or wooden steps.
He ascended, walking up several dozen steps.
The steps in front of the palace are very high.
noun
official rank; grade; level (of old bureaucracy)
archaicHistorical usage, referring to hierarchical ranks in the traditional imperial bureaucratic system.
In ancient times, an official's rank determined his salary and power.
The imperial examination system aimed to select talents through exams and confer different ranks.
noun
social class; stratum
formalA core concept in sociology and Marxist theory, analyzing groups based on economic and social relations.
Marxist theory emphasizes that class struggle is the driving force of social development.
The contradiction between the working class and the capitalist class is the fundamental contradiction in capitalist society.
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The expansion of the middle class is an important characteristic of modern society.
We should strive to eliminate class inequality.