king
/kiɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- (chess) the weakest but the most important piece
- one of the four playing cards in a deck bearing the picture of a king
- 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
- United States charismatic civil rights leader and Baptist minister who campaigned against the segregation of Blacks (1929-1968)
- United States guitar player and singer of the blues (born in 1925)
- United States woman tennis player (born in 1943)
- preeminence in a particular category or group or field
- the lion is the king of beasts
- a very wealthy or powerful businessman
- an oil baron
- a competitor who holds a preeminent position
- a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom