rook

13 synonyms for rook, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

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

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

castle con

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

fortress scam

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

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Synonyms by Meaning

1. 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.”

castle fortress

2. verb

To cheat or overcharge someone.

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

victimize nobble bunco diddle defraud goldbrick swindle con mulct scam hornswoggle

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.

Full origin of rook →

Frequently asked questions

What does “rook” mean?

The word “rook” means a large black European bird related to the crow, known for nesting in noisy colonies. In plain terms, either the crow-like bird, the castle-shaped chess piece, or (as a verb) to swindle someone.

How do you pronounce “rook”?

“Rook” is pronounced ruuk (/ɹʊk/ in IPA).

How do you use “rook” in a sentence?

Here is “rook” used in a sentence: “A flock of rooks circled above the bare winter trees.”

What is another word for “rook”?

Words with a similar meaning to “rook” include castle and fortress.

What part of speech is “rook”?

Depending on how it is used, “rook” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “rook” come from?

The word “rook” comes from Old English.

How many meanings does “rook” have?

“Rook” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large black European bird related to the crow, known for nesting in noisy colonies.

People also searched

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Nearby words

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