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

A week later, the two were paired in an online chess game, which Carlsen quit after just one move. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2024

Offline Joy at Board Game Clubs: Hungry for in-person interaction, Gen Z and millennial players are joining old-fashioned chess, mahjong and backgammon groups. —Alyson Krueger, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2024

By selling the land to the Reservation at a rock-bottom price, Beth and Kayce (Luke Grimes) knew that this chess move was more important than ownership. —William Earl, Variety, 16 Dec. 2024

Men and women currently compete in separate chess tournaments. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024

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