court
court definition
court (kôrt)
noun
- an uncovered space wholly or partly surrounded by buildings or walls; courtyard
- a special section or area of a building, as a museum, somewhat like such a space but roofed, as with a skylight
- a short street, often closed at one end
- a specially prepared space, usually quadrangular and often enclosed and roofed, for playing any of several games, as basketball, handball, tennis, or squash
- any of the divisions of such a space
- a mansion or manor with a large, uncovered entrance area: now used only in proper names Hampton Court
- ☆ a motelin full motor court
- the palace of a sovereign
- the family, advisors, and attendants of a sovereign, considered as a group
- a sovereign together with councilors, ministers, etc. as a governing body
- any formal gathering, reception, etc. held by a sovereign
- respectful or flattering attention paid to someone in order to get something
- courtship; wooing
- Brit. the board of directors of a corporation
- a person or persons appointed to try law cases, make investigations, etc.; judge or judges; law court
- a building or hall where trials are held, official investigations made, etc.
- a judicial assembly, whether civil, ecclesiastical, or military; also, a regular session of such an assembly
Etymology: OFr < VL curtis < L cohors (gen. cohortis), enclosed place: see cohort
transitive verb
- to pay respectful or flattering attention to (a person) in order to get something
- to try to get the love of; seek as a mate; woo
- to try to get; seek to court success
- to make oneself open or liable to to court insults
intransitive verb
to carry on a courtship; woo
adjective
of or fit for a court
Related Forms:
- courter court′er noun
court Idioms
in one's court
- in one's side of the court, as a ball in a tennis game
- under one's control, as a decision to be made
out of court
- without a trial in a law court
- not important enough for consideration or examination
pay court to
to court, as for favor or love
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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