noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
first-class; first-rate; top-ranking
The common modern sense. Used as a noun or before の to describe a person, organization, skill, service, product, etc. as being among the best.
彼女は一流の料理人だ。
She is a first-rate chef.
この
This hotel has top-class service.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
characteristic of; peculiar to; unique to
Often appears as someone+一流の, meaning something done in that person's characteristic or distinctive style. Do not confuse this with the evaluative meaning 'top-class.'
それは彼一流のやり方だ。
That is his characteristic way of doing things.
彼女一流の皮肉で、会場の空気が少し和らいだ。
Her characteristic sarcasm eased the atmosphere in the room a little.
noun
school; lineage; style tradition
Limited use for a school, style, or lineage in a traditional art such as flower arrangement or tea ceremony. Modern Japanese more commonly says 流派 for this meaning.
古い文脈では、華道や茶道などの流派を一流と呼ぶことがある。
In older contexts, a school of flower arrangement or tea ceremony may be called 一流.
noun
one flag; one banner; one streamer
Only when written 一流 / 一旒
Rare counting or catalog-style use for a single flag, banner, or streamer; also written 一旒. This is not the ordinary 'first-rate' meaning.
古い目録の「旗一旒」は、旗が一つあることを表す。
The old catalog entry 旗一旒 means that there is one flag.