Charles

[ chahrlz; for 2 also French sharl ]

/ tʃɑrlz; for 2 also French ʃarl /

noun

Prince of Edinburgh and of Wales, born 1948, heir apparent to the throne of Great Britain (son of Elizabeth II).

Jacques A·le·xan·dre Cé·sar [ah-lek-sahn-druh sey-zahr] /ɑ lɛk sɑ̃ drə seɪˈzɑr/, 1746–1823, French physicist and inventor.

RayRay Charles Robinson, 1930–2004, U.S. blues singer and pianist.

Cape, a cape in E Virginia, N of the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay.

a river in E Massachusetts, flowing between Boston and Cambridge into the Atlantic. 47 miles (75 km) long.

a male given name: from a Germanic word meaning “man.”

Content related to Charles

Why Is The Word “Root” In “Root Beer”?Is root beer the world's most oddly named carbonated beverage ... we don't know, that award might go to 7-up, but we're going to explore the naming of this soft drink regardless. What, after all, is the root in root beer?

Funny Words You Probably Don’t Know Read more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.

Definition for charles (2 of 14)

Charles I

[ chahrlz; French sharl ]

/ tʃɑrlz; French ʃarl /

noun

Charlemagne.

the Bald, a.d. 823–877, king of France 840–877; as Charles II, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire 875–877.

1500–58, king of Spain 1516–56; as Charles V, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire 1519–56.

1600–49, king of Great Britain 1625–49 (son of James I).

1887–1922, emperor of Austria 1916–18; as Charles IV, king of Hungary 1916–18.

Definition for charles (3 of 14)

Charles II

noun

Charles I(def 2).

Charles the Fat, a.d. 809–888, king of France 884–887; as Charles III, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire 881–887.

1630–85, king of Great Britain 1660–85 (son of Charles I of England).

1661–1700, king of Spain 1665–1700.

Definition for charles (4 of 14)

Charles III

noun

Charles II(def 2).

Charles the Simple, a.d. 879–929, king of France 898–923.

Charles VI(def 2).

1716–1788, king of Spain 1759–88; as Charles IV, king of Naples 1734–59.

Definition for charles (5 of 14)

Charles IV

noun

Charles the Fair, 1294–1328, king of France 1322–28.

Charles of Luxembourg, 1316–78, king of Germany 1347–78 and Bohemia 1346–78; emperor of the Holy Roman Empire 1355–78.

Charles I(def 5).

Charles III(def 4).

Definition for charles (6 of 14)

Charles V

noun

Charles the Wise, 1337–81, king of France 1364–80.

Charles I(def 3).

Definition for charles (7 of 14)

Charles VI

noun

Charles the MadorCharles the Well-beloved, 1368–1422, king of France 1380–1422.

1685–1740, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire 1711–40; as Charles III, king of Hungary 1711–40.

Definition for charles (8 of 14)

Charles VII

noun

Charles the Victorious, 1403–61, king of France 1422–61 (son of Charles VI).

Charles Albert, 1697–1745, elector of Bavaria 1726–45; emperor of the Holy Roman Empire 1742–45.

Definition for charles (9 of 14)

Charles VIII

noun

1470–98, king of France 1483–98 (son of Louis XI).

Definition for charles (10 of 14)

Charles IX

noun

1550–74, king of France 1560–74.

1550–1611, king of Sweden 1604–11 (son of Gustavus I).

Definition for charles (11 of 14)

Charles X

noun

Charles Gustavus, 1622–60, king of Sweden 1654–60.

1757–1836, king of France 1824–30.

Definition for charles (12 of 14)

Charles XI

noun

1655–97, king of Sweden 1660–97 (son of Charles X).

Definition for charles (13 of 14)

Charles XII

noun

1682–1718, king of Sweden 1697–1718.

Definition for charles (14 of 14)

Charles XIV

noun

Bernadotte, Jean Baptiste Jules.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for charles

Charles “Father” Coughlin, a raving anti-Semite, was one of the most popular radio hosts in the country.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America?|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“Dwarf mistletoe is freaky, freaky, freaky stuff,” says David Watson, an ecologist at Charles Sturt University in Australia.
Mistletoe is the Vampire of Plants|Helen Thompson|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Esther Choi of Mokbar said she has made Korean potato pancakes called gam ja jun, and Charles Rodriguez of PRINT.
I Ate Potato Pancakes Til I Plotzed|Emily Shire|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
ALEC echoed the ideology of Charles Wilson, the first Defense Secretary in the Eisenhower administration.
The Left’s Answer to ALEC|Ben Jacobs|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Sure, there was top royalty (Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles) and a former Prime Minister (John Major).
Churchill’s Secret Treasures for Sale: A British PM’s Life on the Auction Block|Tom Teodorczuk|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Alice darted a keen look on the Duke, as if to read his meaning; another on Charles, to know whether she had guessed it rightly.
Peveril of the Peak|Sir Walter Scott
He gazed at Mr. Charles F. Furneaux with a surprise that was not altogether flattering.
The Postmaster's Daughter|Louis Tracy
Charles would really be king then, and could disregard the wrath of the men of the conventicles.
Friends, though divided|G. A. Henty
Then Charles said: 'I am sorry for you, young gentleman, for I see you are not good.'
Forgotten Tales of Long Ago|E. V. Lucas
There is a beautiful story of Mrs. Charles Kingsley, who long survived her husband.
At Large|Arthur Christopher Benson

British Dictionary definitions for charles (1 of 13)

Charles

/ (tʃɑːlz) /

noun

Prince of Wales. born 1948, son of Elizabeth II; heir apparent to the throne of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He married (1981) Lady Diana Spencer; they separated in 1992 and were divorced in 1996; their son, Prince William of Wales, was born in 1982 and their second son, Prince Henry, in 1984; married (2005) Camilla Parker Bowles

Ray real name Ray Charles Robinson. 1930–2004, US singer, pianist, and songwriter, whose work spans jazz, blues, gospel, pop, and country music

British Dictionary definitions for charles (2 of 13)

Charles IV

noun

known as Charles the Fair . 1294–1328, king of France (1322–28): brother of Isabella of France, with whom he intrigued against her husband, Edward II of England

1316–78, king of Bohemia (1346–78) and Holy Roman Emperor (1355–78)

1748–1819, king of Spain (1788–1808), whose reign saw the domination of Spain by Napoleonic France: abdicated

title as king of Hungary of Charles ISee Charles I

British Dictionary definitions for charles (3 of 13)

Charles IX

noun

1550–74, king of France (1560–74), son of Catherine de' Medici and Henry II: his reign was marked by war between Huguenots and Catholics

British Dictionary definitions for charles (4 of 13)

Charles VI

noun

known as Charles the Mad or Charles the Well-Beloved. 1368–1422, king of France (1380–1422): defeated by Henry V of England at Agincourt (1415), he was forced by the Treaty of Troyes (1420) to recognize Henry as his successor

1685–1740, Holy Roman Emperor (1711–40). His claim to the Spanish throne (1700) led to the War of the Spanish Succession

British Dictionary definitions for charles (5 of 13)

Charles VII

noun

1403–61, king of France (1422–61), son of Charles VI. He was excluded from the French throne by the Treaty of Troyes, but following Joan of Arc's victory over the English at Orléans (1429), was crowned

1697–1745, Holy Roman Emperor (1742–45) during the War of the Austrian Succession

British Dictionary definitions for charles (6 of 13)

Charles X

noun

title of Charles Gustavus . 1622–60, king of Sweden, who warred with Poland and Denmark in an attempt to create a unified Baltic state

1757–1836, king of France (1824–30): his attempt to restore absolutism led to his enforced exile

British Dictionary definitions for charles (7 of 13)

Charles XI

noun

1655–97, king of Sweden (1660–97), who established an absolute monarchy and defeated Denmark (1678)

British Dictionary definitions for charles (8 of 13)

Charles XII

noun

1682–1718, king of Sweden (1697–1718), who inflicted defeats on Denmark, Russia, and Poland during the Great Northern War (1700–21)

British Dictionary definitions for charles (9 of 13)

Charles XIV

noun

the title as king of Sweden and Norway of Jean Baptiste Jules BernadotteSee Bernadotte

British Dictionary definitions for charles (10 of 13)

Charles I

noun

title as Holy Roman Emperor of CharlemagneSee Charlemagne

title as king of France of Charles II (Holy Roman Emperor)See Charles II

title as king of Spain of Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor)See Charles V (def. 2)

title of Charles Stuart 1600–49, king of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1625–49); son of James I. He ruled for 11 years (1629–40) without parliament, advised by his minister Strafford, until rebellion broke out in Scotland. Conflict with the Long Parliament led to the Civil War and after his defeat at Naseby (1645) he sought refuge with the Scots (1646). He was handed over to the English army under Cromwell (1647) and executed

1887–1922, emperor of Austria, and, as Charles IV, king of Hungary (1916–18). The last ruler of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, he was forced to abdicate at the end of World War I

British Dictionary definitions for charles (11 of 13)

Charles II

noun

known as Charles the Bald. 823–877 ad, Holy Roman Emperor (875–877) and, as Charles I, king of France (843–877)

the title as king of France of Charles III (Holy Roman Emperor)See Charles III (def. 1)

1630–85, king of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1660–85) following the Restoration (1660); son of Charles I. He did much to promote commerce, science, and the Navy, but his Roman Catholic sympathies caused widespread distrust

1661–1700, the last Hapsburg king of Spain: his reign saw the end of Spanish power in Europe

British Dictionary definitions for charles (12 of 13)

Charles III

noun

known as Charles the Fat . 839–888 ad, Holy Roman Emperor (881–887) and, as Charles II, king of France (884–887). He briefly reunited the empire of Charlemagne

1716–88, king of Spain (1759–88), who curbed the power of the Church and tried to modernize his country

British Dictionary definitions for charles (13 of 13)

Charles V

noun

known as Charles the Wise . 1337–80, king of France (1364–80) during the Hundred Years' War

1500–58, Holy Roman Emperor (1519–56), king of Burgundy and the Netherlands (1506–55), and, as Charles I, king of Spain (1516–56): his reign saw the empire threatened by Francis I of France, the Turks, and the spread of Protestantism; abdicated

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Science definitions for charles

Charles

[ chärlz ]

Jacques Alexandre César 1746-1823

French physicist and inventor who formulated Charles's law in 1787. In 1783 he became the first person to use hydrogen in balloons for flight.