court
Pluralcourts
Pluralcourts
Formscourts, courting, courted
- 1
- 2A flat area with lines on it for games like tennis or basketball, or one side of it.
Like a marked playground where each game has its own painted lines.
They reserved a court for an hour of tennis on Saturday.
Players sprinted across the court to return the serve.
Note
- 3The time when a judge meets to hear and deal with legal cases.
Court resumes at nine o'clock tomorrow morning.
The judge adjourned court until the following Monday.
UsageUsually no the: Court starts at nine, after court.
Note
- 4The room or building where a judge hears legal cases.
The lawyers gathered outside the court before the hearing began.
She slipped into the back of the court and found a seat.
UsageFor the room, say courtroom; for the building, courthouse.
Similarcourtroom, courthouse
Note
- 5
- 6To try to win someone's love or date them, often hoping to marry. Animals court when trying to attract a mate.
Like spending lots of time with someone special because you hope to be together.
He sent her flowers every week to court her.
She courted him with sweet notes left in his locker.
UsageFor people it sounds old; we usually say date. Animals still court.
Less common meanings
- 7
- 8To do something that makes a bad result more likely to happen.
Like poking a sleeping dog: you are asking for trouble.
By ignoring the safety rules, they court disaster.
Such reckless spending courts financial ruin.
UsageUsually court disaster or court danger.
Note
- 9An open space with no roof, closed in by walls or buildings.
Like an open-topped box, walled on every side but open to the sky.
Children played in the court between the apartment blocks.
The old house had a paved court at its center.
Similarcourtyard, quadrangle, yard
Note
- 10A short street that is closed at one end, with no way through.
Like a small dead-end street where the road just stops.
They live in a quiet court at the edge of town.
No cars drove through their court, so the kids played safely.
UsageOften part of a street name, written Ct.
Similarcul-de-sac
Note
- 11Polite attention you give to someone important to win their favor.
Like being very nice to someone so they will like you and help you.
He paid court to the rich old man, hoping to be remembered.
Many visitors came to pay court to the new governor.
UsageUsually pay court to someone important.
Similarhomage, deference, attention
Note
- 12In Hong Kong, an apartment building or group of apartment buildings, including ones sold at lower prices by the government.
- 13A cleared spot that some birds decorate to attract a mate.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
It came through Old French and Middle English from Latin, from a word meaning an enclosed yard or group.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- Court came from Latin through Old French and Middle English. en.wiktionary.org
- The Latin source word meant an enclosed yard. en.wiktionary.org
- The Latin source word also meant a group. en.wiktionary.org