chess

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈches 

: a game for 2 players each of whom moves 16 pieces according to fixed rules across a checkerboard and tries to checkmate the opponent's king

Illustration of chess

• chessboard with chess pieces arranged as at the beginning of a game

chess

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: a weedy annual European bromegrass (Bromus secalinus) widely naturalized in North America as a weed especially in grain

2

: any of several weedy bromegrasses related to chess

Examples of chess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With its ability to overcome first the devastation of war, and secondly the bifurcation orchestrated by geopolitical chess players, Berlin didn’t get to 75 by giving in to gloom and doom. —Steven Gaydos, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025

The kitchen has also been heavily updated with state-of-the-art appliances, custom oak wood cabinetry, and a curved kitchen island with black barstools designed to look like chess pieces. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2025

Salah is also a keen chess player and loves the strategy involved. —The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025

Walker is the type of chess piece and playmaker Carolina desperately needs on that side of the ball. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English chesse, ches, esches, borrowed from Anglo-French escheks, eschez "game of chess" — more at check entry 2

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1736, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chess

• chess pie

Kids Definition

chess

noun

ˈches

: a game for two players each of whom plays with 16 pieces on a checkerboard

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ches "game of chess," from early French eschés (same meaning), literally, "checks," from eschec "check" — related to check, checker