royal
n. countablen. a member of a king or queen's family. People often use this word when talking about the British royal family in news or gossip.
n. a member of a royal family, especially a king, queen, prince, or princess. Informal in register when used as a collective or individual noun in journalism.
The royals are visiting the hospital today.
The local newspaper followed every move of the visiting royal during her tour of the city.
While the constitutional powers of the monarchy are limited, the public remains fascinated by the private lives of every royal within the immediate line of succession.
Often used in the plural ('the royals') to refer to the family as a group.
- 01
give the royal treatment
To treat (someone) extremely well.
- 02
royal bumps
A ritual of two or more persons holding another person by the arms and legs, face up, while bumping them repeatedly on the floor. In modern times it is a lighthearted affair, generally performed only on a young person's birthday with the number of bumps corresponding to the person's age in years. Historically it was a hazing.