favourite

noun

1. a person or thing regarded with special favor or preference: That song is an old favorite of mine.
2. Sports. a competitor considered likely to win.
3. a person or thing popular with the public.
4. a person treated with special or undue favor by a king, official, etc.: favorites at the court.
5. Digital Technology. bookmark(def 3a).

adjective

6. regarded with particular favor or preference: a favorite child.

adjective

1. (prenominal) most liked; preferred above all others

noun

2. 1. a person or thing regarded with especial preference or liking
   2. (as modifier)a favourite book
3. sport a competitor thought likely to win
4. (pl) computing a place on certain browsers that allows internet users to list the addresses of websites they find and like with a click of the mouse so that they can revisit them merely by opening the list and clicking on the address
5. play favourites to display favouritism

n.

1580s, from Middle French favorit, perhaps via Italian favorito, past participle of favorire, from favore, from Latin favorem (see favor (n.)). In racing, attested from 1813. As an adjective, by 1711.