ace

¹ace

noun \ˈās\

Definition of ACE

1

a : a die face marked with one spot

b : a playing card marked in its center with one pip

c : a domino end marked with one spot

2

: a very small amount or degree : particle

3

: a point scored especially on a service (as in tennis or handball) that an opponent fails to touch

4

: a golf score of one stroke on a hole; also : a hole made in one stroke

5

: a combat pilot who has brought down at least five enemy airplanes

6

a : a person who excels at something <a computer ace>

b : the best pitcher on a baseball team <the ace of the staff>

— ace in the hole

1

: an ace dealt face down to a player (as in stud poker) and not exposed until the showdown

2

: an effective and decisive argument or resource held in reserve

— within an ace of

: on the point of : very near to <came within an ace of winning>

Examples of ACE

1. She won the match by scoring more than 30 aces.
2. <took a few lessons with a tennis ace to improve his backhand>

Origin of ACE

Middle English as, from Anglo-French, from Latin, unit, a copper coin

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ACE

Synonyms

expert, adept, artist, authority, cognoscente, connoisseur, crackerjack (also crackajack), dab [chiefly British], dab hand [chiefly British], fiend, geek, guru, hand, hotshot, maestro, master, maven (also mavin), meister, past master, proficient, scholar, shark, sharp, virtuoso, whiz, wizard

Antonyms

amateur, inexpert, nonexpert

Related Words

pro, professional; consultant, hired gun, specialist; addict, aficionado (also afficionado), buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan; craftsman, journeyman; all-rounder [British], jack-of-all-trades, Renaissance man; mistress

Near Antonyms

apprentice, beginner, neophyte, novice; dabbler, dilettante; layman, nonprofessional

Rhymes with ACE

base, bass, brace, case, chase, dace, face, grace, lace, mace, Mace, Naas, pace, place, plaice, prase, race, res, space, Thrace, trace, vase, Wace

²ace

transitive verb

acedac·ing

Definition of ACE

1

: to score an ace against (an opponent)

2

: to make (a hole in golf) in one stroke

3

: to gain a decisive advantage over : defeat —usually used with out

4

a : to earn a high grade on (as an examination); especially : to get an A on

b : to perform extremely well in <he aced every subject>

Examples of ACE

1. She aced her entrance exams.
2. He aced his annual physical.
3. He aced his opponent on the last point of the match.

First Known Use of ACE

1923

³ace

adjective

Definition of ACE

: of first or high rank or quality <an ace mechanic>

First Known Use of ACE

1926

Related to ACE

Synonyms

accomplished, proficient, adept, compleat, complete, consummate, crack, crackerjack, educated, experienced, expert, good, great, master, masterful, masterly, practiced (also practised), professed, skilled, skillful, versed, veteran, virtuoso

Antonyms

amateur, amateurish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, unprofessional, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful

Related Words

adroit, clever, deft, dexterous (also dextrous), handy, slick, sure-handed; gifted, talented; polished, refined; effective, effectual, efficient, workmanlike; able, capable, competent, employable, fit, fitted, habile, qualified; educated, knowledgeable, schooled, taught, trained, tutored; all-around (also all-round), well-rounded; long-term, old; multiskilled, multitalented

Near Antonyms

incapable, incompetent, inept, unable, unfit, unfitted, unqualified, weak; artless, crude, rude; ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient; talentless, ungifted, untalented; ignorant, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored; beginning, green, inexperienced, new, raw, unseasoned, untested, untried, would-be; primitive, rough, unpolished; awkward, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, heavy-handed

ACE

abbreviation

Definition of ACE

American Council on Education

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis