noun

rook

ruuk

noun

A large black European bird related to the crow, known for nesting in noisy colonies.

"A flock of rooks circled above the bare winter trees."

In chess, a piece shaped like a castle tower that moves in straight lines, horizontally or vertically.

"She castled early to get her king and rook into safer positions."

verb

To cheat or overcharge someone.

"The tourist felt rooked after paying triple the normal taxi fare."

How to Use Rook

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the crow-like bird, the castle-shaped chess piece, or (as a verb) to swindle someone.

Common mistake

Don't confuse the chess "rook" (the tower piece) with "rookie" (a beginner) — they're unrelated in meaning despite the similar spelling.

Word Forms

rooked past tense, rooked past tense, rooks plural, rooks plural, rooks plural, rooks singular, rooks singular

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A flock of _____ circled above the bare winter trees.

Etymology

The bird sense comes from Old English hrōc, an old imitative word for the bird's harsh call; the "cheat" sense grew from the bird's reputation for thieving, and the chess piece comes from a separate, unrelated word for a fortified tower.

Synonyms

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castle fortress

Related Words

castle fortress citadel

Rhymes for rook

ook book look cook hook nook kook sook fook mook wook Took

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