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

The chess match continued moments later, propelled by Xaverian quarterback Will Wood. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025

Surtain could enter Monday night’s chess match with a bit extra on his chip, though. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025

Apps have learned that designing their interfaces this way increases user engagement, whether the purpose is learning a language or training for a marathon or getting better at chess. —Simon Shuster, Time, 24 Sep. 2025

These residents were chosen based on lists of people that Saratoga, Prospect and Lynbrook high schools determined were successful, which include Speedcubers, chess masters, actors and more. —Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 23 Sep. 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

Rhymes for chess

• bless
• cress
• dress
• es
• ess
• esse
• fess
• guess
• jess
• less
• lesse
• mess

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