# chess

/ˈtʃɛs/ (US) · /tʃˈɛs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chess
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the board game

noun · CEFR A2

a game for two players who move pieces on a square board to try and trap the other player's king.

For teachers: a strategic board game for two players, played on a chequered board with sixteen pieces per side, with the objective of checkmating the opponent's king.

- He spends every Saturday afternoon playing chess at the local park.
- Grandmasters often spend years studying opening theory to gain a slight advantage in the early stages of a chess match.

### 2. military bridge floor

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

one of the wooden planks used to make the floor of a temporary military bridge.

For teachers: a platform or planking unit used in the construction of the flooring for a temporary military pontoon or trestle bridge.

- The soldiers quickly laid the chesses across the frame to finish the bridge.
- The engineering manual specifies that each chess must be inspected for structural integrity before being secured to the bridge stringers.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form 'chesses' in this context.

### 3. a type of grass

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Technical

a type of wild grass that is often seen as a weed in farmers' fields.

For teachers: any of several species of grass within the genus Bromus, frequently regarded as a weed in agricultural contexts.

- The farmer had to spray the field to get rid of the chess growing among the wheat.
- Infestations of soft chess can significantly reduce the yield of cereal crops if not managed during the early growing season.

## Examples

- He plays chess every Saturday at the park.
- The grandmaster spent hours studying the board before making his next move in the chess tournament.
- Historians often compare the tactical maneuvers of 18th-century warfare to a game of chess, where positioning and sacrifice are more critical than brute force.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.