checkmate
noun/ˌtʃekˈmeɪt/, /ˈtʃekmeɪt/
/ˌtʃekˈmeɪt/, /ˈtʃekmeɪt/
(also mate)
[uncountable, countable]- (in chess) a position in which one player cannot prevent their king (= the most important piece) being captured and therefore loses the game see also check compare stalemate
- a situation in which somebody has been completely defeated
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French eschec mat, from Arabic šāh māta, from Persian šāh māt ‘the king is dead’.
Check pronunciation:
checkmate