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

see all synonyms and antonyms

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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