chess
UK: tʃes | US: tʃes
n. a strategic board game for two players, played on a checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid.
n. (figuratively) any complex strategic competition or maneuvering.
No data yet.
The word "chess" originates from the Old French "esches," meaning "checks" or "the game of checks," derived from the Persian "shāh" (king). The game itself evolved from the Indian "chaturanga," spreading through Persia and the Islamic world before reaching Europe. The term reflects the game's pivotal objective—checkmating the opponent's king ("shāh māt" in Persian, meaning "the king is helpless"). Over time, "esches" simplified to "chess" in English, losing its morphemic transparency.
She won the chess tournament after a tense final match.
Chess requires both tactical skill and long-term planning.
The Cold War was often likened to a global chess game.
He taught his son to play chess when he was five.
The chess pieces were carved from ebony and ivory.