# ace

Pronunciation: US/AUS say "AYS" /eɪs/; UK

## Noun

1. A playing card with a single pip, usually ranking highest or lowest; also the side of a die marked with one dot.
   - Simple: A playing card with one symbol, often the highest card. Also the side of a dice that has one dot.
   - _He held two aces and a king, and bet everything he had._
   - _Pulling the ace of spades from the deck, the magician grinned at the audience._
3. A person of supreme skill or talent at something, from a seasoned expert to a brilliant, unconventional genius.
   - Simple: Someone who is very good at something, a real expert.
   - _The firm sent its ace negotiator to close the deal._
   - _He was the ace of the newsroom, the reporter every editor wanted on a breaking story._
4. In tennis, volleyball and similar games, a serve that wins the point outright; in tennis it counts only if the receiver fails to touch the ball.
   - Simple: A serve that wins the point straight away. In tennis the other player must not even touch it.
   - _He served an ace on the first point of the final and never looked back._
   - _The volleyball team's new server racked up five aces in the opening set._
5. A combat pilot credited with destroying a large number of enemy aircraft, generally at least five.
   - Simple: A military pilot who has shot down many enemy planes, usually five or more.
   - _By the end of the war she was the squadron's leading ace, with eleven confirmed victories._
   - _The squadron's aces were celebrated in the newspapers back home._
6. The strongest pitcher on a baseball team's staff. *(US)*
   - Simple: The best pitcher a baseball team has.
   - _With their ace on the mound, the club felt good about its chances in the playoff opener._
   - _Both aces struggled with their control, and the series opener turned into a slugfest._
11. A perfect mark on a school test or exam. *(US)*
   - Simple: A perfect score on a test at school.
   - _An ace on the final would lift her grade to an A._
   - _Three aces in a row on the chemistry quizzes earned him a seat in the advanced class._
8. In golf and disc golf, a hole in one: a hole completed with a single stroke from the tee.
   - Simple: In golf, a shot from the tee that goes straight into the hole, a hole in one.
   - _Her ace on the par-three twelfth won her a new car from the sponsor._
   - _In disc golf, aces are rare enough that the club keeps a plaque listing every one._
14. Someone who is asexual or on the asexual spectrum, experiencing little or no sexual attraction to others. *(slang)*
   - Simple: An asexual person, someone who feels little or no sexual attraction.
   - _Many aces grow up assuming they are simply late bloomers before they find a word for themselves._
   - _She was the only ace in her friend group, so she started an online meetup for others._
15. The ball numbered 1 in pool and similar games.
   - Simple: In pool, the ball with the number 1 on it.
   - _She called the ace for the side pocket and sank it cleanly._
   - _After the break, the ace sat hanging over the corner pocket._
16. A paper banknote worth one dollar. *(slang, US)*
   - Simple: A one-dollar bill.
   - _By closing time the register was stuffed with aces and quarters._
   - _She slid an ace across the bar and asked for change._
17. A very small amount or degree of something, the least possible bit.
   - Simple: A very small amount of something.

## Verb

2. To do extremely well on a test, an interview, or a similar trial, often with a perfect or near-perfect result. *(colloquial, US)*
   - Simple: To do very well on a test or an interview, often getting a perfect or almost perfect result.
   - _He aced every exam in his final semester._
   - _Candidates who ace the first interview are usually called back within the week._
9. In golf, to score a hole in one by completing a hole with a single stroke from the tee.
   - Simple: In golf, to get the ball into the hole with one shot from the tee.
   - _She aced the par-three ninth with a seven iron and bought drinks for the whole clubhouse._
   - _Players who ace the signature hole during the tournament win a car._
12. In tennis, to win a point against an opponent with an ace, a serve the receiver fails to hit.
   - Simple: In tennis, to win a point with a serve the other player does not even hit.
   - _Players with a big first serve can ace even the best returners when the court is playing fast._
   - _Serving for the championship, she aced her opponent down the middle and dropped her racket in disbelief._
10. To beat your rivals in a contest, or to come out ahead of them in a competition. *(colloquial, US)*
   - Simple: To beat other people in a contest or game, or to do better than them.
   - _A small startup from Ohio aced out several larger firms for the city's new transit contract._
   - _Critics think the underdog film could ace out three studio favorites for the festival's top prize._

## Adjective

7. Excellent, outstandingly good. *(slang, UK)*
   - Simple: Very good, really great.
   - _The gig was absolutely ace, and the support band was brilliant too._
   - _He's an ace bloke, always the first to help out at the allotments._
13. Asexual, or on the asexual spectrum: experiencing little or no sexual attraction to others. *(slang)*
   - Simple: Short for asexual: feeling little or no sexual attraction to anyone.
   - _She identifies as ace and has been open about it since college._
   - _The forum is a welcoming space for ace and aromantic people alike._

## Noun

18. A run scored in a game of baseball. *(obsolete, US)*
   - Simple: In baseball, a run scored by a team.
19. A quark, one of the elementary particles that make up protons and neutrons. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A quark, one of the smallest particles inside an atom.

## Other meanings

- (noun) Any of several butterflies in the skipper family, Hesperiidae.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–12, 15–19** — The word goes back to Latin as, assis ("unity," also "a copper coin, the unit of coinage"), which was probably taken from Etruscan. It passed through Old French as into Middle English as, and it is a doublet of as.
**Meanings 13–14** — A shortened form (clipping) of asexual.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/ace (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).