chess

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈches 

: a game for 2 players each of whom moves 16 pieces according to fixed rules across a checkerboard and tries to checkmate the opponent's king

Illustration of chess

• chessboard with chess pieces arranged as at the beginning of a game

chess

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: a weedy annual European bromegrass (Bromus secalinus) widely naturalized in North America as a weed especially in grain

2

: any of several weedy bromegrasses related to chess

Examples of chess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The team is hoping Fitzpatrick, who has demonstrated his versatility by lining up in various roles, can become its ultimate defensive chess piece. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026

As a smaller park, Bejster said a neighborhood playground is planned as well as a quarter-mile walking path, a game table with a board for chess or checkers, a soccer target game and a small fitness area. — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026

Founders Simone Robert and Isabel Münter weren’t trying to revive chess. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026

The computer scientist Steve Omohundro made this concrete in a 2008 paper that opens by asking whether a chess-playing robot could possibly be dangerous. — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English chesse, ches, esches, borrowed from Anglo-French escheks, eschez "game of chess" — more at check entry 2

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1736, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chess

• chess pie

Rhymes for chess

• bless
• cress
• dress
• es
• ess
• esse
• fess
• guess
• jess
• less
• lesse
• mess

Kids Definition

chess

noun

ˈches

: a game for two players each of whom plays with 16 pieces on a checkerboard

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ches "game of chess," from early French eschés (same meaning), literally, "checks," from eschec "check" — related to check, checker