English Reference
noun · verb

queen

n. · v.
US /ˈkwin/ UK /kwˈiːn/ queen UK spelling queen's, queen's, queened

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    n.a woman who rules a country because she belongs to a royal family, or the wife of a king.

    n.a female sovereign or the consort of a reigning king.

    Simple

    The queen waved to the crowds from the balcony of the palace.

    In context

    Following the king's death, the queen dowager maintained significant influence over the royal court during her son's minority.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    n.the most powerful piece in the game of chess.

    n.the most versatile and powerful piece in chess, capable of moving any number of squares in any direction.

    Simple

    He moved his queen across the board to put the king in check.

    In context

    Sacrificing the queen is a risky strategy that only experienced players usually attempt during high-stakes tournaments.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    n.a large female insect, like a bee or ant, that lays all the eggs for the group.

    n.the single reproductive female in a colony of social insects such as bees, ants, or termites.

    Simple

    The worker bees spend their whole lives protecting the queen.

    In context

    If the queen dies without a successor, the entire hive may become disorganized and eventually perish.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Theatre

    n.a person, usually a man, who dresses in bright, beautiful clothes and makeup to perform.

    n.an entertainer, typically a man, who adopts a flamboyant feminine persona and costume for performance.

    Simple

    The queen performed a famous pop song at the club last night.

    In context

    The local drag queen is known for her sharp wit and elaborate handmade gowns that take weeks to construct.

  5. 05 A2 Elementary

    n.a playing card with a picture of a queen on it.

    n.a playing card bearing the representation of a queen, ranking between the jack and the king.

    Simple

    I have the queen of hearts in my hand.

    In context

    She needed the queen of spades to complete her sequence, but her opponent had already discarded it.

  6. 06 C2 Proficiency Technical

    v.to turn a pawn into a queen when it reaches the end of the board.

    v.to promote a pawn to the rank of queen upon reaching the opponent's eighth rank.

    Simple

    If you get your pawn to the last row, you can queen it.

    In context

    The grandmaster managed to queen his passed pawn, effectively ending the match in three more moves.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Very common
Updated