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checkmate definition

check·mate (-māt′)

noun

  1. Chess
    1. the move that wins the game by checking the opponent's king so that it cannot be protected
    2. the condition of the king after such a move
  2. complete defeat, frustration, etc.

Etymology: ME chek mat < OFr eschec mat, ult. < Pers šāh māt, lit., the king is dead < šāh, king + māt, he is dead

interjection

Chess used to signify that one's opponent's king is in checkmate

transitive verb checkmated -·mat′·ed, checkmating -·mat′·ing

  1. Chess to place in checkmate
  2. to defeat completely; frustrate; thwart

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

checkmate Synonyms

checkmate

v.

halt, thwart, counter, defeat; see check 2, defeat 1, halt 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

checkmate Usage Examples

Object

  • king: The game is drawn when a position has arisen in which neither player can checkmate the opponent`s king with any series of legal moves.

Converse of object

  • force: Most chess programs look first to see whether they can force a checkmate.
checkmate usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"checkmate." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/checkmate>

APA Style

checkmate. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/checkmate

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