chess

[ ches ]

/ tʃɛs /

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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.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of chess

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English che(e)s, chesse, echesse, esches, from Old French esches, plural of eschec check¹

Words nearby chess

Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshunt, Cheshvan, cheskey, Chesnutt, chess, chessboard, chessboxing, chess clock, chessel, chessman

Other definitions for chess (2 of 3)

chess²

[ ches ]

/ tʃɛs /

noun, plural chess·es.

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

Origin of chess

First recorded in 1735–40; origin unknown

Other definitions for chess (3 of 3)

chess³

[ ches ]

/ tʃɛs /

noun, plural chess, chess·es.

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

Origin of chess

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English ches “tier, layer,” possibly alteration of Middle French chasse “frame”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use chess in a sentence

Other hobbies include reading, playing chess, working out, and pretending I can cook.
Meet D.C.’s Most Eligible LGBTQ Singles|Staff reports|February 11, 2021|Washington Blade
You have to play that chess match with the defensive coordinator and the defensive players out there on the field on how they want to defend you.
Travis Kelce is the best tight end in football. Just ask any NFL player.|Adam Kilgore|February 4, 2021|Washington Post
A virtual robot arm has learned to solve a wide range of different puzzles—stacking blocks, setting the table, arranging chess pieces—without having to be retrained for each task.
These virtual robot arms get smarter by training each other|Will Heaven|January 22, 2021|MIT Technology Review
If he had only played that one game, he would be famous in chess.
Lubomir Kavalek, international chess grandmaster, dies at 77|Emily Langer|January 20, 2021|Washington Post

This approach has led to algorithms that have independently learned to play chess at a superhuman level and prove mathematical theorems without any human guidance.
How Explainable Artificial Intelligence Can Help Humans Innovate|Forest Agostinelli|January 13, 2021|Singularity Hub
In late April or early May 1955, Chuck approached Muddy Waters about recording, and Muddy sent him to Leonard Chess.
How Rock and Roll Killed Jim Crow|Dennis McNally|October 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We thought this season it would be more fun to just start the chess game right away.
‘The Good Wife’ Creators on the Premiere’s Big Cary Twist, Will’s Death, and More|Kevin Fallon|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of his most entertaining books is about Chess Records, the legendary Blues record label.
The Stacks: How Leonard Chess Helped Make Muddy Waters|Alex Belth|August 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I never during all those Chess years looked upon my father or my uncle or myself as artists,” Marshall Chess told me.
The Stacks: How Leonard Chess Helped Make Muddy Waters|Alex Belth|August 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Argentina and Belgium, earlier in the day, had fought out a fascinating duel, not unlike chess on turf.
Costa Rica vs. the Netherlands: A Tale of Two Goalies|Tunku Varadarajan|July 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This other by what seems a congenial activity, fascinating as a game of chess, acquires uncounted millions.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
I dont know that I care for chess; I can not concentrate my attention as I could a year ago.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater
She came to the table, set the candlestick down and looked over the chess-board.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater
Then he goes in to dine and play chess with the parson, and leaves me here to watch and wait.
The Nursery, August 1873, Vol. XIV. No. 2|Various
She felt like a chess player who, by the clever handling of his pieces, sees the game taking the course intended.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin

British Dictionary definitions for chess (1 of 3)

chess¹

/ (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)

chess²

/ (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)

chess³

/ (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

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