Meaning & Definition of word "Checkmate"
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Checkmate
/ˈtʃɛkˌmeɪt/
noun:
- 1. A situation in chess where a player's king is in a position to be captured ('in check') and there is no way for that player to move the king out of capture.
- Example: After a long game, she finally announced checkmate and claimed victory.
- 2. A definitive defeat or a situation where someone has been outmaneuvered or outsmarted.
- Example: The negotiation ended in checkmate for the opposing team, leaving them with no options.
verb:
- 1. To put an opponent's king in checkmate.
- Example: He checkmated his opponent with a clever move.
- 2. To defeat someone decisively or to outsmart them.
- Example: She checkmated him in the debate with her final argument.
Etymology
Derived from the Persian phrase 'shāh māt', meaning 'the king is dead'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
checkmate in 3:
A chess strategy that results in checkmate in three moves.
checkmate!:
An exclamation used when defeating someone in chess or in a competitive situation.
Related Words
check:
A situation in chess where the king is under immediate threat.
king:
The most important piece in the game of chess.
Slang Meanings of checkmate
Meaning: A term used to signify a decisive victory in any competition.
Example Sentence: He scored the final point and it was total checkmate.
Meaning: To be in an unbeatable or unavoidable situation.
Example Sentence: After that last argument, she had him in checkmate.