Surpass in quality (8)
I believe the answer is:
outclass
'surpass in quality' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for outclass that I've seen before include "Thrash" , "put in the shade" , "Be a cut above" , "Surpass greatly, be in a superior category" , "Eclipse" .)