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checkmate

checkmate [ chék mayt ]


noun  (plural checkmates)
Definition:
 
1. winning chess position: in chess, a condition or position in which a player's king cannot escape check and the other player wins the game

2. chess move that ends game: in chess, a move that produces checkmate, or a game that ends in checkmate
The series was declared a draw with three checkmates apiece.

3. complete defeat: a situation of defeat or deadlock



transitive verb  (3rd person present singular checkmates, present participle checkmating, past and past participle checkmated)
Definition:
 
1. trap king in chess: in chess, to put an opponent's king in checkmate

2. thwart somebody: to make it impossible for somebody to succeed or proceed further



interjection 
Definition:
 
announcement of checkmate: in chess, used to announce that an opponent's king is in checkmate

[15th century. Via Old French eschec mat< Persian šāh māt 'the king is dead']
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