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court definition

court (kôrt)

noun

    1. an uncovered space wholly or partly surrounded by buildings or walls; courtyard
    2. a special section or area of a building, as a museum, somewhat like such a space but roofed, as with a skylight
  1. a short street, often closed at one end
    1. a specially prepared space, usually quadrangular and often enclosed and roofed, for playing any of several games, as basketball, handball, tennis, or squash
    2. any of the divisions of such a space
  2. a mansion or manor with a large, uncovered entrance area: now used only in proper names Hampton Court
  3. ☆ a motel
    in full motor court
    1. the palace of a sovereign
    2. the family, advisors, and attendants of a sovereign, considered as a group
    3. a sovereign together with councilors, ministers, etc. as a governing body
    4. any formal gathering, reception, etc. held by a sovereign
  4. respectful or flattering attention paid to someone in order to get something
  5. courtship; wooing
  6. Brit. the board of directors of a corporation
    1. a person or persons appointed to try law cases, make investigations, etc.; judge or judges; law court
    2. a building or hall where trials are held, official investigations made, etc.
    3. 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

  1. to pay respectful or flattering attention to (a person) in order to get something
  2. to try to get the love of; seek as a mate; woo
  3. to try to get; seek to court success
  4. 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:

court Idioms

in one's court

  1. in one's side of the court, as a ball in a tennis game
  2. under one's control, as a decision to be made

out of court

  1. without a trial in a law court
  2. 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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