chess

1
[ ches ]
/ tʃɛs /

noun

a game played on a chessboard by two people who maneuver sixteen pieces each according to rules governing movement of the six kinds of pieces (pawn, rook, knight, bishop, queen, king), the object being to bring the opponent's king into checkmate.

Origin of chess

1
1150–1200; Middle English < Old French esches, plural of eschec check1

Words nearby chess

cheshire west and chester, cheshunt, cheshvan, cheskey, chesnutt, chess, chess clock, chess pie, chessboard, chessboxing, chessel

Definition for chess (2 of 3)

chess 2
[ ches ]
/ tʃɛs /

noun, plural chess·es.

any of several weedy species of bromegrass, especially Bromus secalinus.

Definition for chess (3 of 3)

chess 3
[ ches ]
/ tʃɛs /

noun, plural chess, chess·es.

one of the planks forming the roadway of a floating bridge.

Origin of chess

3
1425–75; late Middle English ches tier, layer < ?

Example sentences from the Web for chess

British Dictionary definitions for chess (1 of 3)

chess 1
/ (tʃɛs) /

noun

a game of skill for two players using a chessboard on which chessmen are moved. Initially each player has one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns, which have different types of moves according to kind. The object is to checkmate the opponent's king

Word Origin for chess

C13: from Old French esches, plural of eschec check (at chess); see check

British Dictionary definitions for chess (2 of 3)

chess 2
/ (tʃɛs) /

noun

US a less common name for rye-brome

Word Origin for chess

C18: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for chess (3 of 3)

chess 3
/ (tʃɛs) /

noun plural chess or chesses

a floorboard of the deck of a pontoon bridge

Word Origin for chess

C15 (in the sense: layer, tier): from Old French chasse frame, from Latin capsa box