chequer
/'tʃekə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A game piece in checkers/draughts: A small, flat, typically round disc used as a playing piece in the board game of checkers (known as draughts in British English).
- A pattern of squares: A pattern, often on fabric or a surface, consisting of squares of alternating colors, like a chessboard.
Verb:
- To mark with a pattern of squares: To divide a surface into a pattern of squares, often of alternating colors.
- To variegate with colors or patterns: To diversify something with different colors, shades, or patterns, breaking up uniformity.
Examples
Noun:
- He moved the red chequer two spaces forward. (He moved the red game piece two spaces forward.)
- The tablecloth had a bright red and white chequer. (The tablecloth had a bright red and white checkered pattern.)
Verb:
- The artist decided to chequer the floor of the mural. (The artist decided to mark the floor of the mural with a square pattern.)
- Sunlight through the leaves chequered the forest path. (Sunlight through the leaves created a pattern of light and shadow on the forest path.)
Advanced Usage
- "Chequered" (Adjective): Marked with a pattern of squares; by extension, having a varied or mixed history, often with periods of both success and failure.
- The race car had a chequered flag design. (The race car had a flag design with a pattern of squares.)
- The company has a chequered past, with several financial scandals. (The company has a past marked by varied and often dubious events.)
Variants and Related Words
- Checker: The more common American English spelling for both the noun (game piece, pattern) and the verb. "Chequer" is a standard British variant.
- Checkered (Adj): The American English spelling of the adjective (e.g., a checkered tablecloth, a checkered career).
- Chequebook/Checkbook (n): A book of blank checks for writing payments. (Listed as a separate compound word).
- Chequerboard/Checkerboard (n): A board with a chequered pattern, used for playing games like checkers/draughts. (Listed as a separate compound word).
Synonyms
- Noun (piece): Draughtsman, counter, disc, token.
- Noun/Verb (pattern): Check, square, tessellate, variegate, diversify.
Related Phrases
- Chequer work: Work or a surface that is divided into or decorated with a chequered pattern.
- The parquet floor was beautiful chequer work. (The parquet floor was a beautiful pattern of squares.)
Related Idioms
- A chequered career/history/past: A career or history marked by frequent changes in fortune, with both good and bad periods.
- The actor's chequered career included both award-winning roles and major box-office failures. (The actor's career was varied, with both successes and failures.)
Noun
- one of the flat round pieces used in playing the game of checkers
Verb
- variegate with different colors, shades, or patterns
- mark into squares or draw squares on; draw crossed lines on