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Definition of chessboard

chessboard

/ˈtʃɛs.bɔːrd/
chess · board
Plural:chessboards
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chessboard Lexical Profile

chessboard Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A square playing board divided into sixty-four alternating dark and light colored squares, used for the game of chess.

Example

"The grandmaster stared intently at the chessboard, silently calculating her opponent's possible responses."

2

A situation, landscape, or arena characterized by strategic maneuvering, competition, or contrasting elements.

Example

"The conflicting nations treated the small, resource-rich region as a geopolitical chessboard, moving their allied factions like pawns."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for chessboard

• Rhymes for chessboard

• Nearby Words

cherry pepper
cherry tomato
chervil
chessboard
chest
chestnut
chevron

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound word formed from 'chess' (derived from the Old French 'esches', meaning 'check') and 'board' (from the Old English 'bord', meaning 'plank' or 'table').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Chessboard. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/chessboard
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