knight

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Formal

n. a person who has been given a special title of honour by a king or queen for their great work.

n. a person upon whom a non-hereditary knighthood has been conferred by a monarch or other head of state.

“The famous scientist was made a knight for his services to medicine.”

“After decades of philanthropic work, the philanthropist was formally invested as a knight at the palace.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a chess piece that looks like a horse's head and moves in an 'L' shape.

n. a chess piece, usually shaped like a horse, that moves two squares vertically and one horizontally (or vice versa).

“He moved his knight to capture the opponent's queen.”

“The grandmaster sacrificed his knight to create a tactical opening in the opponent's defensive line.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Literary

n. a man who is very brave, polite, and helpful toward others.

n. a man who behaves in an exceptionally honourable, brave, or chivalrous manner.

“He was a true knight who always helped people in trouble.”

“In the romantic novels of that era, the protagonist is often depicted as a knight in shining armour who rescues those in distress.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal

v. to give someone the official title of 'Sir' in a special ceremony.

v. to confer the rank of knighthood upon a person, typically by touching their shoulders with a sword.

“The Queen will knight the successful athlete at the ceremony tomorrow.”

“It is tradition for the monarch to knight individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts and sciences.”