# rook

/ˈɹʊk/ (US) · /ɹˈʊk/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rook
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a large black bird that looks like a crow and lives in big groups. It can also mean the chess piece that looks like a castle tower.

For teachers: a gregarious black bird of the crow family; also identifies the chess piece that moves in straight lines horizontally or vertically.

## Examples

- The rook moves across the board to protect the king.
- A noisy colony of rooks nested in the tall trees behind the old manor house.
- In the endgame, the player sacrificed a rook to force a stalemate, demonstrating a deep understanding of defensive positioning despite the material disadvantage.

## Usage notes

- When referring to the bird, it is often associated with the collective noun 'parliament'.

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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.