checkerboard
checkerboard Lexical Profile
checkerboard Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A square playing board divided into sixty-four alternating light and dark squares, used primarily for playing checkers or chess.
"They set up the checkerboard on the porch table to play a quick game before dinner."
A repeating pattern consisting of alternating light and dark squares.
"The vintage diner featured a classic black and white checkerboard on the floor."
• verb
To mark, divide, or arrange a surface or geographical area into a pattern of alternating squares.
"The agricultural fields checkerboarded the valley with alternating patches of green corn and golden wheat."
Word Nuance & Usage
In North American English, 'checkerboard' is the standard term, whereas 'draughtboard' is typically preferred in British English when referring to the game.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'checker' (from Middle English 'cheker', originally meaning a chessboard or exchequer) and 'board'. The term emerged in English in the early 17th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.