Court (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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noun
  1. Law.
    • a place where justice is administered.
    • a judicial tribunal duly constituted for the hearing and determination of cases.
    • a session of a judicial assembly.
  2. an area open to the sky and mostly or entirely surrounded by buildings, walls, etc.
  3. a high interior usually having a glass roof and surrounded by several stories of galleries or the like.
  4. a stately dwelling.
  5. a short street.
  6. a smooth, level quadrangle on which to play tennis, basketball, etc.
  7. one of the divisions of such an area.
  8. the residence of a sovereign or other high dignitary; palace.
  9. a sovereign's or dignitary's retinue.
  10. a sovereign and councilors as the political rulers of a state.
  11. a formal assembly held by a sovereign.
  12. homage paid, as to a king.
  13. special or devoted attention in order to win favor, affection, etc.: to pay court to the king.
  14. the body of qualified members of a corporation, council, board, etc.
  15. a branch or lodge of a fraternal society.
  16. Animal Behavior.
    • an area where animals of a particular species gather to display.
    • the group of insects, as honeybees, surrounding the queen; retinue.
verb (used with object)
  1. to try to win the favor, preference, or goodwill of: to court the rich.
  2. to seek the affections of; woo.
  3. (of animals) to attempt to attract (a mate) by engaging in certain species-specific behaviors.
  4. to attempt to gain (applause, favor, a decision, etc.).
  5. to hold out inducements to; invite.
  6. to act in such a manner as to cause, lead to, or provoke: to court disaster by reckless driving.
verb (used without object)
  1. to seek another's love; woo.
  2. (of animals) to engage in certain species-specific behaviors in order to attract a mate.
Idioms
  1. hold court,
    • to have a formal assembly of a judicial tribunal or one held by a sovereign.
    • to be surrounded by one's disciples or admirers, giving advice, exchanging gossip, receiving compliments, etc.
  2. out of court,
    • without a legal hearing; privately: The case will be settled out of court.
    • out of the question; undeserving of discussion: This wild scheme is entirely out of court.
noun
  1. Australian tennis player.
noun
  1. an area of ground wholly or partly surrounded by walls or buildings
  2. British (capital when part of a name)
    • a block of flats
    • a mansion or country house
    • a short street, sometimes closed at one end
  3. a space inside a building, sometimes surrounded with galleries
    • the residence, retinues, or household of a sovereign or nobleman
    • (as modifier)
  5. a sovereign or prince and his retinue, advisers, etc
  6. any formal assembly, reception, etc, held by a sovereign or nobleman with his courtiers
  7. homage, flattering attention, or amorous approaches (esp in the phrase pay court to someone)
  8. law
    • an authority having power to adjudicate in civil, criminal, military, or ecclesiastical matters
    • the regular sitting of such a judicial authority
    • the room or building in which such a tribunal sits
    • a marked outdoor or enclosed area used for any of various ball games, such as tennis, squash, etc
    • a marked section of such an area
    • the board of directors or council of a corporation, company, etc
    • the supreme council of some universities
  11. a branch of any of several friendly societies
  12. to take legal action
  13. to preside over admirers, attendants, etc
  14. out of court
    • without a trial or legal case
    • too unimportant for consideration
    • so as to ridicule completely (in the phrase laugh out of court)
  15. you are obliged to make the next move
verb
  1. to attempt to gain the love of (someone); woo
  2. to pay attention to (someone) in order to gain favour
  3. to try to obtain (fame, honour, etc)
  4. to invite, usually foolishly, as by taking risks
  5. to be conducting a serious emotional relationship usually leading to marriage
noun
  1. Margaret (née Smith). born 1942, Australian tennis player, winner of a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles: Australian Open champion 1960–66, 1969–71, and 1973; US Open champion 1962, 1965, 1969–70, and 1973; Wimbledon champion 1963, 1965, and 1970; French Open champion 1962, 1965, 1969–70, and 1973
Court (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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