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Definition of chess

chess

/tʃɛs/
chess
Plural:chesses
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chess Lexical Profile

chess Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A strategic board game for two players played on a checkered board of sixty-four squares, in which each player moves sixteen pieces according to fixed rules with the objective of checkmating the opponent's king.

Example

"Every afternoon, the two grandfathers sat in the park to play a quiet game of chess."

2

North American Any of several weedy annual grasses of the genus Bromus, especially Bromus secalinus, that frequently grow as invasive weeds in wheat and rye fields.

Example

"The farmer inspected the wheat field to ensure that wild chess had not overtaken the grain crop."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for chess

• Rhymes for chess

• Nearby Words

cherubic
chervil
cheshire
chess
chessboard
chessman
chesspiece

Word Origin & Etymology

Middle English ches, borrowed from Old French esches (plural of eschec, meaning 'check' in the game), which ultimately derives via Arabic from the Persian word shah, meaning 'king'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Chess. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/chess
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