Definition

1. 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.

2. 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

1. one of the flat round pieces used in playing the game of checkers

Verb

1. variegate with different colors, shades, or patterns
2. mark into squares or draw squares on; draw crossed lines on