Definition of "Chu"

Chu¹

/tʃu/

proper noun
1. A surname from Chinese.

Chu²

/tʃu/

proper noun
1. (historical) An ancient Chinese viscounty and kingdom of the Zhou dynasty (circa 1030–223 B.C.E.) along the Yangtze River.
  Quotations
  A group of bronzes of the late Western Chou were uncovered in Chingshan County, Hupeh Province, and 25 pieces of stone ching (musical chimes) with a painted design of the State of Chu were found in Chiangling County of the same province.
  1971, “Historical Relic Unearthed During the Cultural Revolution”, in Eastern Horizon‎, volume X, number 5, Hong Kong: Eastern Horizon Press, page 26, column 2
2. (historical) The realm of this state, as a region or fief in later imperial China.
3. (historical) Huan Chu, the short-lived kingdom of Huan Xuan (403–404 C.E.).
4. (historical) Ma Chu, a kingdom (907–951 C.E.) during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.