King: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ‘‘
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king

 

[ kษชล‹ ]

Context #1 | Noun

ruler

A male monarch who rules a kingdom or empire, typically through hereditary right. Kings often have significant political power and are seen as the highest authority in their realm. Throughout history, kings have played a central role in shaping the political landscape of their countries.

Synonyms

monarch, ruler, sovereign

Examples of usage

  • The king issued a decree to raise taxes in the kingdom.
  • The king's coronation ceremony was a grand event attended by nobles from across the land.
  • Kings in medieval times often led their armies into battle personally.
Context #2 | Noun

playing card

The highest-ranking card in a deck of playing cards, usually depicted with a crown. In many card games, the king is considered the most powerful card and can often determine the outcome of the game.

Synonyms

monarch, ruler, sovereign

Examples of usage

  • She played the king of hearts to win the trick.
  • In a game of poker, having a pair of kings can be a winning hand.
Context #3 | Noun

chess piece

The most important piece in the game of chess, capable of moving in any direction on the board. The king is the piece that must be protected at all costs, as its capture results in the end of the game.

Synonyms

monarch, ruler, sovereign

Examples of usage

  • The player moved their king to safety to avoid checkmate.
  • The king can castle with the rook in certain situations.

Translations

Translations of the word "king" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น rei

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฐเคพเคœเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Kรถnig

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ raja

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะบะพั€ะพะปัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ krรณl

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็Ž‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท roi

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ rey

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท kral

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์™•

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ู„ูƒ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ krรกl

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ krรกฤพ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ›ฝ็Ž‹

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ kralj

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ konungur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฟะฐั‚ัˆะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒ”แƒคแƒ”

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ kral

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ rey

Etymology

The word 'king' has its origins in Old English 'cyning', which in turn comes from the Proto-Germanic 'kuningaz'. The concept of kingship has existed for thousands of years, with rulers in various civilizations taking on titles equivalent to 'king'. Kings have been portrayed in literature, mythology, and folklore as powerful and often divine figures. The role of the king has evolved over time, from absolute rulers to constitutional monarchs in modern times.

See also: kingdom, kingly, kingpin.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,004, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.