court

[ kawrt, kohrt ]

/ kɔrt, koʊrt /

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 forms

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

Can be confused

caught court cot

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

British Dictionary definitions for hold court (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 hold court (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

Idioms and Phrases with hold court (1 of 2)

hold court

Be surrounded by and command the attention of admirers, subordinates, or hangers-on. For example, After a match Judy generally held court in the locker room. This expression alludes to royalty convening courtiers as well as a judge convening a court of law.

Idioms and Phrases with hold court (2 of 2)

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 CONTENT

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of court

Related forms

Can be confused

British Dictionary definitions for hold court (1 of 2)

court

noun

verb

Word Origin for court

British Dictionary definitions for hold court (2 of 2)

Court

noun

Idioms and Phrases with hold court (1 of 2)

hold court

Idioms and Phrases with hold court (2 of 2)

court