chess

chess · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A strategic board game for two players, played on a checkered 64-square board with 16 pieces per player, the objective being to checkmate the opponent's king.

  2. 2.

    (figurative) A situation requiring careful strategic planning.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    chess match — a competition between two chess players
  • •
    chess master — an expert chess player
  • •
    play chess — to engage in a game of chess
  • •
    chess move — a strategic action (figurative or literal)
  • •
    like playing chess — requiring careful strategic thinking

Related words

See also: board game, checkmate, king, strategy

Etymology

From Old French esches (plural of eschec, "check"), from Persian shāh ("king") via Arabic. The game originated in India as chaturanga and spread westward through Persia. The word "checkmate" comes from Persian shāh māt ("the king is dead").