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

Millions watch on the Internet as Garry Kasparov loses a chess match to IBM’s Deep Blue. —New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026

What his role ends up looking like in Dallas could even vary from down to down, as he will be seen as the chess piece that can allow other defensive backs to hone in on their respective spots. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026

One page shows an illustration of each piece; the opposite page is an illustration of the chess board, with arrows pointing in the directions that a piece can move. —Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 12 Mar. 2026

With long stretches set in real time, the crew must use advanced tactical maneuvers to complete their mission, essentially playing 3-D chess on the high seas. —Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 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