queen
kween
Queen (noun) means a female monarch who rules a country, or the wife of a king. Example: “The queen waved to the crowds from the palace balcony.”
noun
1
A female monarch who rules a country, or the wife of a king.
"The queen waved to the crowds from the palace balcony."
"The queen addressed the nation on Christmas Day."
"She was crowned queen at the age of twenty-five."
2
In chess, the most powerful piece, able to move any number of squares in any direction.
"She moved her queen across the board and put the king in check."
"He sacrificed his queen to set up checkmate."
"Losing your queen early is usually a serious setback."
3
The single fertile female in a colony of bees, ants, or similar social insects.
"If the queen dies, the whole ant colony may struggle to survive."
"The hive can have only one queen at a time."
"Worker bees feed and protect the queen."
verb
1
In chess, to promote a pawn to a queen by reaching the far side of the board.
"His pawn queened on the final move of the game."
"She pushed the pawn forward, hoping to queen it."
"If your pawn reaches the last row, you can queen it and swing the game."
How to use queen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA female ruler, a powerful chess piece, or the egg-laying female of a bee or ant colony.
Common pairings
crown a queen
queen bee
queen and king
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- queens
- Past tense
- queened
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The _____ waved to the crowds from the palace balcony.
Etymology
From Old English cwen, "queen, wife," from a Germanic root meaning "woman."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for queen
See all rhymes for queen →Frequently asked questions
What does “queen” mean?
The word “queen” means a female monarch who rules a country, or the wife of a king. In plain terms, a female ruler, a powerful chess piece, or the egg-laying female of a bee or ant colony.
How do you pronounce “queen”?
“Queen” is pronounced kween (/kwiːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “queen” in a sentence?
Here is “queen” used in a sentence: “The queen addressed the nation on Christmas Day.”
What part of speech is “queen”?
Depending on how it is used, “queen” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “queen” come from?
The word “queen” comes from Old English. From Old English cwen, "queen, wife," from a Germanic root meaning "woman.".
Is “queen” a common word?
“Queen” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “queen” have?
“Queen” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a female monarch who rules a country, or the wife of a king.
What is the difference between a queen and a king?
A king is a male monarch, while a queen is either a female monarch or the wife of a king. The key difference is that 'king' always denotes a ruler, whereas 'queen' can mean a woman who rules in her own right or one who holds the title through marriage.
What is the difference between a queen regnant and a queen consort?
A queen regnant rules the country in her own right, holding full royal authority, as Elizabeth II did. A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king and shares his title but not his governing power. The same word 'queen' covers both very different roles.
Can a woman be queen without being married to a king?
Yes. A queen regnant inherits or holds the throne in her own right and needs no king. Her husband, if she has one, is usually styled prince consort rather than king. Many nations have been ruled by queens who reigned independently and wielded full sovereign power.
What are the types of queen?
There are three main senses. A queen regnant rules in her own right; a queen consort is the wife of a reigning king; and a queen dowager, or queen mother, is the widow of a former king. Only the regnant actually governs the country.
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