Definition

1. Noun:
   • A male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom: A king is a male monarch who rules a country, usually by hereditary right.
   • A person or thing regarded as the best or most important in a particular sphere or group: Used to denote preeminence in a specific category or field.
   • The most important chess piece, which each player must protect from checkmate: In chess, the king is the piece whose capture ends the game.
   • A playing card bearing a picture of a king, ranking below an ace: One of the four court cards in a standard deck of playing cards.
   • A powerful or influential businessman or magnate: Often used in compounds like "oil king" to denote a person with great wealth and power in a specific industry.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Sovereign):
  • The king ruled the kingdom for fifty years.
  • They pledged their loyalty to the new king.
• Noun (Preeminent figure):
  • He is considered the king of jazz.
  • The lion is often called the king of the beasts.
• Noun (Chess):
  • You must protect your king at all costs.
  • He moved his king to a safer square.
• Noun (Playing card):
  • She played the king of hearts.
  • Do you have a king in your hand?
• Noun (Influential person):
  • The media called him a retail king.

Advanced Usage

• "King it over (someone)": To act in a domineering or superior manner toward someone.
  • He loves to king it over his younger colleagues.
• "King of the castle": A person in a position of superiority or control, often used in children's games or metaphorically.
  • After the promotion, he felt like the king of the castle.

Variants and Related Words

• Kingly (adjective): Of, relating to, or befitting a king; royal.
  • He assumed his kingly duties.
• Kingship (noun): The position, authority, or dignity of a king; monarchy.
  • The ceremony celebrated his ascension to kingship.
• Kingpin (noun): A person or thing that is essential to the success of an organization or operation. (Note: This is a distinct compound word).
  • He was the kingpin of the entire smuggling ring.

Synonyms

• Monarch: A sovereign head of state, especially a king, queen, or emperor.
• Ruler: A person who governs or commands.
• Sovereign: A supreme ruler, especially a monarch.
• Magnate: A wealthy and influential person, especially in business.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• "To turn King's evidence" (British English; also "Queen's evidence" depending on the monarch): For an accomplice in a crime to testify against their partners in return for a lighter sentence.
  • Facing a long prison term, the thief decided to turn King's evidence.

Related Idioms

• "A king's ransom": A very large amount of money.
  • That painting is worth a king's ransom.
• "Fit for a king": Of exceptionally high quality; very luxurious.
  • The meal they prepared was fit for a king.
• "Live like a king": To live in great luxury and comfort.
  • After winning the lottery, he lived like a king.

Noun

1. (chess) the weakest but the most important piece
2. one of the four playing cards in a deck bearing the picture of a king
3. a checker that has been moved to the opponent's first row where it is promoted to a piece that is free to move either forward or backward
4. United States charismatic civil rights leader and Baptist minister who campaigned against the segregation of Blacks (1929-1968)
5. United States guitar player and singer of the blues (born in 1925)
6. United States woman tennis player (born in 1943)
7. preeminence in a particular category or group or field
   • the lion is the king of beasts
8. a very wealthy or powerful businessman
   • an oil baron
9. a competitor who holds a preeminent position
10. a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom