crown
/kraʊn/ (bre, ipa) · [krˈaʊn] /kraʊn/ (ame, ipa) · [krˈaʊn] /ˈkrau̇n/ (ame, mw)
crown — noun
- crownsingular
- crownsplural
1. a ceremonial headpiece that signals royal status when a ruler has it on.
a ceremonial headpiece that signals royal status when a ruler has it on.
The ancient gold crown in the museum caught every child's eye.
the crown as a royal object
The royal crown rested on blue velvet beside the throne.
During the parade, Liang pointed at the silver crown above the queen's veil.
Guards lifted the heavy crown carefully before the ceremony began.
文法句型
wear a crown
put on a crown
用法筆記
Used for the object itself, not for royal power or government. Distinguish from sense 7, which refers to monarchy as an institution.
2. the position of being champion, or the title won by the person or team that come
the position of being champion, or the title won by the person or team that comes first.
She trained for years to win the national tennis crown.
win the crown
A knee injury kept Mateo from defending his boxing crown this summer.
defend the crown
After six rounds, Devika finally lifted the club's chess crown.
Winning the marathon crown brought her sponsorship offers across Europe.
- title
the most neutral choice in sport
- championship
can also refer to the event itself
- defeat
the loss that prevents someone keeping or winning the title
文法句型
win the crown
defend the crown
用法筆記
Common in sport and competition writing, often in headlines. It refers to champion status, not to a physical prize such as a medal or cup.
3. the area at the very top of a person, hat, hill, or similar thing.
the area at the very top of a person, hat, hill, or similar thing.
She balanced her sunglasses on the crown of her head.
the crown of the head
The path ends at the rocky crown of the hill.
A pink ribbon circled the crown of Mina's straw hat.
The nurse pressed a cool cloth against Tomás's crown.
文法句型
the crown of the head
the crown of a hill
用法筆記
This sense names the uppermost area of an object or body part. Distinguish from sense 10, which is used only for the leafy top of a tree.
4. a dental cap put over an injured tooth, or the tooth section seen above the gum.
a dental cap put over an injured tooth, or the tooth section seen above the gum.
After the root canal, the dentist fitted a porcelain crown over her molar.
fit a crown over + tooth
The loose crown fell out while Marcus was eating soup.
During the checkup, the hygienist cleaned the crown of the tooth carefully.
A temporary crown protected the broken tooth until the lab finished the permanent one.
- cap
informal word patients often use for the artificial cover
文法句型
fit a crown
a dental crown
用法筆記
In everyday use this usually means the artificial dental cap. In technical explanations it can also mean the visible upper part of a natural tooth.
5. an old money piece from Britain once valued at five shillings.
an old money piece from Britain once valued at five shillings.
The antique dealer displayed a silver crown from the reign of George V.
a silver crown
Inside the wallet, Eitan found one faded photo and a crown.
Collectors paid extra for the crown because the date was unusually clear.
用法筆記
This is a historical British money sense and appears mainly in history, collecting, and older writing.
6. the breast portion from a large bird prepared without the legs attached.
the breast portion from a large bird prepared without the legs attached.
For the small dinner, Anya roasted a turkey crown with lemon butter.
a turkey crown
Brush the crown often so the white meat stays moist.
They ordered a goose crown because only four guests were coming.
用法筆記
Mainly used in British cooking language for a roast that gives you breast meat without the legs attached.
7. monarchical state authority, especially in legal or constitutional use.
monarchical state authority, especially in legal or constitutional use.
The new regulations were issued by the Crown after the security review.
issued by the Crown
In Canada, some land is still held in the name of the Crown.
in the name of the Crown
The prosecutor argued that the Crown had enough evidence to continue.
- the monarchy
broader and less tied to legal wording
文法句型
under the Crown
用法筆記
Often written with a capital letter in legal or government contexts. It refers to the monarchy as a public authority, not to the physical object in sense 1.
8. a head ring made of leaves, flowers, or similar material to honour someone or ma
a head ring made of leaves, flowers, or similar material to honour someone or mark a win.
The poet received a laurel crown after winning the city festival.
a laurel crown
In the mural, dancers wear flower crowns during the spring rite.
The statue shows the athlete lifting a crown of olive leaves.
用法筆記
This is an older or more literary sense than sense 1, and it often refers to a wreath rather than a metal royal object.
9. the part of something that makes it seem most impressive, valuable, or complete.
the part of something that makes it seem most impressive, valuable, or complete.
The rooftop garden is the crown of the new hotel.
the crown of + thing
For many readers, the final chapter is the crown of the novel.
The library became the crown of the campus after the restoration.
Her calm final speech was the crown of a difficult campaign.
- highlight
more everyday and less literary
- culmination
stresses the finishing effect
文法句型
the crown of + thing
用法筆記
This figurative sense praises the most admired part of something. Distinguish from the idiom 'the jewel in the crown', which makes the same idea more fixed and vivid.
10. the upper spread of branches and leaves on a tree.
the upper spread of branches and leaves on a tree.
Monkeys moved through the crown of the fig tree before sunrise.
the crown of the tree
Morning light rested on the pine crown above the cabin roof.
The storm snapped branches from the oak's crown during the night.
- canopy
often used for the upper layer formed by many trees together
用法筆記
Used in botany, forestry, and descriptive writing for the leafy upper part of a tree.
crown — verb
- crownpresent simple I / you / we / they
- crowns3rd person singular
- crowning-ing form
- crownedpast simple
1. to make someone king or queen by formally placing the royal headpiece on them.
to make someone king or queen by formally placing the royal headpiece on them.
Priests crowned the young ruler before dawn bells rang across the square.
crown + person + ruler title
History books say they crowned her queen inside the stone abbey.
He was crowned king in front of millions watching the ceremony live.
At noon, the archbishop crowned the prince after the royal oath.
- enthrone
more formal and focused on putting someone in royal power
文法句型
crown + person + king/queen
be crowned + title
用法筆記
This sense is used for the formal act that marks the start of a monarch's rule. It often appears in the passive: 'was crowned king' or 'was crowned queen'.
2. to officially name someone or something as the winner, the best, or the most suc
to officially name someone or something as the winner, the best, or the most successful.
Judges crowned Devika this year's debate champion after the final round.
crown + person + champion
The magazine crowned the cafe the city's best breakfast spot.
crown + thing + best + category
After extra time, the team was crowned regional champions at last.
Fans online crowned Liang the player of the month by midnight.
文法句型
crown + person/thing + winner/champion
be crowned + champion
用法筆記
This sense extends the royal image to prizes, rankings, and public praise. It can be used for a person, a team, or even a product judged the best in a category.
3. if one success crowns an effort or period, it becomes the proud final part of it
if one success crowns an effort or period, it becomes the proud final part of it.
She crowned her long career with a farewell concert in Taipei.
crown + career + with + event
Winning the final match crowned a near-perfect season for the club.
He crowned the journey with a quiet week beside the Alps.
文法句型
crown + effort/career/season + with + result
用法筆記
This figurative sense highlights a final success that makes earlier work feel complete. It is more literary than sense 2.
4. to stand on the highest part of something or form its upper edge.
to stand on the highest part of something or form its upper edge.
A stone cathedral crowned the hill above the river town.
crown + hill
The tower was crowned with a bronze weather vane.
be crowned with + object
Tall pines crowned the ridge and darkened the path below.
文法句型
be crowned with + object
crown + hill/tower/building
用法筆記
Often used in descriptive writing for a structure, ornament, or natural feature on the top of something.
5. to cover a damaged tooth with a dental crown.
to cover a damaged tooth with a dental crown.
The dentist plans to crown the cracked tooth next Tuesday morning.
crown + tooth
They crowned the molar quickly to stop further damage.
After the filling failed, Emma chose to have the tooth crowned.
文法句型
crown + tooth
用法筆記
Used mainly in dentistry to describe the treatment of placing a crown over a tooth.
6. to smack someone on the top of the head.
to smack someone on the top of the head.
He threatened to crown his brother with the newspaper.
crown + person + with + object
The drunk fan tried to crown the guard during the fight.
I nearly crowned him when he hid my keys again.
文法句型
crown + person
用法筆記
This is an informal, often threatening use meaning to hit someone on the head, not to honour them.