Definition of "court"

An enclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different buildings; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.  quotations

1. (Australia, US) A street with no outlet, a cul-de-sac.  examples

2. (Hong Kong, only used in names) A housing estate under the House Ownership Scheme.  examples

3. (Hong Kong, only used in names) An apartment building, or a small development of several apartment buildings.  examples

(social) Royal society.

1. The residence of a sovereign, prince, nobleman, or other dignitary; a palace.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • This our court, infected with their manners, / Shows like a riotous inn.

     c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene iv]

2. The collective body of persons composing the retinue of a sovereign or person high in authority; all the surroundings of a sovereign in his regal state.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • My lord, there is a nobleman of the court at door would speak with you.

     c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene iv]

   • Love rules the court, the camp, the grove.

     1819–1824, [Lord Byron], Don Juan, London, (please specify |canto=I to XVII)

3. Any formal assembling of the retinue of a sovereign.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • The princesses […] held their court within the fortress.

     1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter 20, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volumes (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans

Attention directed to a person in power; behaviour designed to gain favor; politeness of manner; civility towards someone  quotations  examples

(law) The administration of law.

1. The hall, chamber, or place, where justice is administered.  examples

2. The persons officially assembled under authority of law, at the appropriate time and place, for the administration of justice; an official assembly, legally met together for the transaction of judicial business; a judge or judges sitting for the hearing or trial of cases.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Next month, Clemons will be brought before a court presided over by a "special master", who will review the case one last time. The hearing will be unprecedented in its remit, but at its core will be a simple issue: should Reggie Clemons live or die?

     2012 August 21, Ed Pilkington, “Death penalty on trial: should Reggie Clemons live or die?”, in The Guardian

   • 536(2.1)... You have the option to elect to be tried by a provincial court judge without a jury; or you may elect to be tried by a judge without a jury; or you may elect to be tried by a court composed of a judge and jury.

     1985, “Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)”, in Justice Canada‎, retrieved 1 March 2020

3. An organization for the administration of law, consisting of a body of judges with a certain jurisdiction along with its administrative apparatus.  examples

4. (often capitalized) The judge or judges or other judicial officer presiding in a particular matter, particularly as distinguished from the counsel or jury, or both.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • A case conference in person was convened.... To emphasize that it was a Court proceeding the Court was gowned.

     2017 May 5, Kevin R. Aalto, “Gordon v. Canada, 2017 FC 454”, in CanLII‎, retrieved 23 February 2020

   • ... defence alleges there is a reasonable apprehension of bias based on the cumulative effect of several issues including the following: (1) The Court was “crying” during the victim impact statement; (2) The Court laughed or “scoffed” when defence stated its sentencing position; ...(6) The Court’s tone, facial expression and demeanor throughout the proceedings...

     2018 August 17, M.F. McParland, “R. v. Carlson, 2018 BCPC 209”, in CanLII‎, retrieved 1 March 2020

5. The session of a judicial assembly.  examples

6. Any jurisdiction, civil, military, or ecclesiastical.  examples

(sports) A place arranged for playing the games of tennis, basketball, handball, badminton, volleyball, squash and some other games  quotations

1. one of the two divisions of a tennis, badminton or volleyball court, in which the player or players of each team play  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • The photograph at left captures a great serve by Dr. Sadowsky, who will never forget one of Bobby Riggs's serves, which had such a great spin that it landed in his court and bounced back to the other side of the net before he had a chance to return it.

     2010, Cara Marcus, Faulkner Hospital

(ornithology) A space prepared and decorated by certain bird species in which to advertise themselves for a mate.

(transitive) To seek to achieve or win.  quotations  examples

(transitive) To risk (a consequence, usually negative).  quotations  examples

(transitive) To try to win a commitment to marry from.  quotations  examples

(transitive) To engage in behavior leading to mating.  examples

(transitive) To attempt to attract.  quotations  examples

(transitive) To invite by attractions; to allure; to attract.  quotations  examples

(transitive) To attempt to gain alliance with.  examples

(intransitive) To engage in activities intended to win someone's affections.  examples

(intransitive) To engage in courtship behavior.  examples