king
/kɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈɪŋ] /kɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈɪŋ] /ˈkiŋ/ (ame, mw)
king — noun
- kingsingular
- kingsplural
1. a man who rules a country because he was born into its royal family
a man who rules a country because he was born into its royal family
King Felipe spoke to the nation after the summer floods.
title: King + name
After the old king died, his eldest son became king.
The king opened the new hospital with a short speech.
Children waved flags as the king rode through the capital.
- subject
a person who lives under a king's rule rather than holding it
文法句型
King + name
the king of + country
用法筆記
Used both before a ruler's name and as a common noun. Compare sense 2, which is figurative and does not describe an actual royal ruler.
常見錯誤
2. the person, animal, or thing seen as the strongest, most famous, or most success
the person, animal, or thing seen as the strongest, most famous, or most successful in its group
For many runners, Kipchoge remains the king of the marathon.
pattern: the king of + activity
Tomás became the king of sourdough after winning three city prizes.
For years, diesel buses were king on these mountain roads.
In local radio, Felix is still the king of morning talk.
- underdog
someone expected to lose rather than dominate
文法句型
the king of + field/group
用法筆記
Usually appears in praise such as 'the king of jazz' or 'king of the hill'. Unlike sense 1, this sense is metaphorical and does not involve royal government.
常見錯誤
3. the chess piece you must keep safe, which moves one square at a time in any dire
the chess piece you must keep safe, which moves one square at a time in any direction
Felix moved his king one square to escape the rook.
move + king + one square
If your king stays in check, you lose the game.
game rule: king in check
Walid castled early to keep his king behind the pawns.
The black king had no safe square after Ayana's move.
文法句型
move the king
put the king in check
用法筆記
Each player starts the game with one king. Compare sense 5, where a checkers piece becomes a king later in the game.
常見錯誤
4. a card in a pack that shows a king's picture
a card in a pack that shows a king's picture
Tyler won the hand with the king of spades.
pattern: king of + suit
Constanza turned over a king and smiled at her luck.
The dealer laid down a king, and the whole table groaned.
Eitan kept the king of hearts for the last round.
文法句型
king of + suit
用法筆記
Often named with its suit, such as 'king of hearts' or 'king of clubs'. Distinguish from sense 3, where king is a chess piece rather than a card.
5. a checkers piece that has reached the far side and can then move forward or back
a checkers piece that has reached the far side and can then move forward or backward
Christopher turned his checker into a king on the back row.
turn a checker into a king
Once the piece became a king, it could move both ways.
game change: become a king
Yan saved his king and jumped two red pieces.
After three careful moves, Nadia made her last checker a king.
文法句型
become a king
make a checker a king
用法筆記
This sense belongs to checkers, where an ordinary piece is promoted after reaching the far side. Unlike sense 3, it is not a piece you begin the game with.
常見錯誤
king — adjective
- kingpositive
- kingercomparative
- kingestsuperlative
1. used in names for an animal, plant, or object that is bigger than the usual kind
used in names for an animal, plant, or object that is bigger than the usual kind
The market was selling fresh king prawns from the south coast.
fixed name: king + animal
We saw a king penguin standing above the smaller birds.
This recipe works best with king oyster mushrooms.
The guide pointed to a king protea beside the path.
- giant
ordinary descriptive word; unlike 'king', it is not usually part of the established species name
文法句型
king + noun
用法筆記
This sense usually appears inside fixed names such as 'king prawn' or 'king penguin'. It does not refer to a ruler in these names.