court

[ kawrt, kohrt ]

/ kɔrt, koʊrt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR court ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Law.

a place where justice is administered.
a judicial tribunal duly constituted for the hearing and determination of cases.
a session of a judicial assembly.

an area open to the sky and mostly or entirely surrounded by buildings, walls, etc.

a high interior usually having a glass roof and surrounded by several stories of galleries or the like.

Chiefly Irish. a stately dwelling.

a short street.

a smooth, level quadrangle on which to play tennis, basketball, etc.

one of the divisions of such an area.

the residence of a sovereign or other high dignitary; palace.

a sovereign's or dignitary's retinue.

a sovereign and councilors as the political rulers of a state.

a formal assembly held by a sovereign.

homage paid, as to a king.

special or devoted attention in order to win favor, affection, etc.: to pay court to the king.

the body of qualified members of a corporation, council, board, etc.

a branch or lodge of a fraternal society.

Animal Behavior.

an area where animals of a particular species gather to display.
the group of insects, as honeybees, surrounding the queen; retinue.

verb (used with object)

to try to win the favor, preference, or goodwill of: to court the rich.

to seek the affections of; woo.

(of animals) to attempt to attract (a mate) by engaging in certain species-specific behaviors.

to attempt to gain (applause, favor, a decision, etc.).

to hold out inducements to; invite.

to act in such a manner as to cause, lead to, or provoke: to court disaster by reckless driving.

verb (used without object)

to seek another's love; woo.

(of animals) to engage in certain species-specific behaviors in order to attract individuals of the opposite sex for mating.

Nearby words

courser, courses, courseware, coursework, coursing, court, court card, court christian, court circular, court cupboard, court dance

Idioms

hold court,

to have a formal assembly of a judicial tribunal or one held by a sovereign.
to be surrounded by one's disciples or admirers, giving advice, exchanging gossip, receiving compliments, etc.

out of court,

without a legal hearing; privately: The case will be settled out of court.
out of the question; undeserving of discussion: This wild scheme is entirely out of court.

Origin of court

1125–75; Middle English co(u)rt < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin cohort- (stem of cohors) farmyard; see cohort

Related formsout·court, verb (used with object)un·court·ed, adjectiveun·court·ing, adjectivewell-court·ed, adjective

Can be confusedcaught court cot

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

Examples from the Web for courting

In 1907, Picasso was courting his first great love, Fernande Olivier.
Did Picasso Try to Steal the Mona Lisa?|Nick Mafi|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But she longed for home and another New York agency was courting her.
This Baby Can Work a Runway|Brandy Zadrozny|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The question is, with regards to the demographic that he was courting, is he right?
Racism or Exit Strategy for Atlanta Hawks Owner Bruce Levenson?|Robert Silverman|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And since local producers have been busy enough growing their own markets, courting Westerners hasn't been a priority.
The Most Powerful Liquor in the World|Kayleigh Kulp|August 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

For a Northeastern more-or-less-moderate Republican, this courting of the right is a familiar path.
Why Hillary Clinton Should Go a-Knocking on Ralph Reed’s Door|Jeff Greenfield|June 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I have referred to the opportunities for courting upon the wild rice fields.
Indian Boyhood|[AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman
The custom of the country requires the girl to do all the courting.
Unknown Mexico, Volume 1 (of 2)|Carl Lumholtz
Young Dowgate was courting Jane Comfort when he gave her her prayer-book, and recorded the presentation in the fly-leaf.
Old and New London|Walter Thornbury
He may be fond of displaying his superiority, and of courting the applause and distinction which it brings.
Mental Philosophy: Including the Intellect, Sensibilities, and Will|Joseph Haven
The old people did all the courting there was done, which was not much.
Plain Facts for Old and Young|John Harvey Kellogg

British Dictionary definitions for courting (1 of 2)

court

/ (kɔːt) /

noun

an area of ground wholly or partly surrounded by walls or buildings

British (capital when part of a name)

a block of flatsSelwyn Court
a mansion or country house
a short street, sometimes closed at one end

a space inside a building, sometimes surrounded with galleries

the residence, retinues, or household of a sovereign or nobleman
(as modifier)a court ball

a sovereign or prince and his retinue, advisers, etc

any formal assembly, reception, etc, held by a sovereign or nobleman with his courtiers

homage, flattering attention, or amorous approaches (esp in the phrase pay court to someone)

law

an authority having power to adjudicate in civil, criminal, military, or ecclesiastical matters
the regular sitting of such a judicial authority
the room or building in which such a tribunal sits

a marked outdoor or enclosed area used for any of various ball games, such as tennis, squash, etc
a marked section of such an areathe service court

the board of directors or council of a corporation, company, etc
mainly British the supreme council of some universities

a branch of any of several friendly societies

go to court to take legal action

hold court to preside over admirers, attendants, etc

out of court

without a trial or legal casethe case was settled out of court
too unimportant for consideration
British so as to ridicule completely (in the phrase laugh out of court)

the ball is in your court you are obliged to make the next move

verb

to attempt to gain the love of (someone); woo

(tr) to pay attention to (someone) in order to gain favour

(tr) to try to obtain (fame, honour, etc)

(tr) to invite, usually foolishly, as by taking risksto court disaster

old-fashioned to be conducting a serious emotional relationship usually leading to marriage

Word Origin for court

C12: from Old French, from Latin cohors cohort

British Dictionary definitions for courting (2 of 2)

Court

/ (kɔːt) /

noun

Margaret (née Smith). born 1942, Australian tennis player, winner of a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles: Australian Open champion 1960–66, 1969–71, and 1973; US Open champion 1962, 1965, 1969–70, and 1973; Wimbledon champion 1963, 1965, and 1970; French Open champion 1962, 1965, 1969–70, and 1973

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

Word Origin and History for courting (1 of 2)

court

late 12c., from Old French cort (11c., Modern French cour) "king's court, princely residence," from Latin cortem, accusative of cors (earlier cohors) "enclosed yard," and by extension (and perhaps by association with curia "sovereign's assembly"), "those assembled in the yard; company, cohort," from com- "together" (see com-) + stem hort- related to hortus "garden, plot of ground" (see yard (n.1)). Sporting sense is from 1510s, originally of tennis. Legal meaning is from late 13c. (early assemblies for justice were overseen by the sovereign personally).

Word Origin and History for courting (1 of 2)

court

"woo, offer homage," as one does at court, 1570s; see court (n.). Related: Courted; courting.

Idioms and Phrases with courting

court

see ball's in your court; day in court; friend in court; hold court; kangaroo court; laugh out of court; pay court to.

court

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of court

Examples from the Web for courting

British Dictionary definitions for courting (1 of 2)

court

noun

verb

Word Origin for court

British Dictionary definitions for courting (2 of 2)

Court

noun

Word Origin and History for courting (1 of 2)

court

Word Origin and History for courting (1 of 2)

court

Idioms and Phrases with courting

court