court

A court is a room where justice is administered. Many popular television shows feature scenes in court, although it’s debatable whether these depictions are realistic.

Court can refer not just to the courtroom but also to the judges who preside over it, as in the example of the U.S. Supreme Court. Court can also refer to monarchs and their attendants, as in the phrase "royal court." As a verb, court means “try to win the affections of someone,” as, historically, people sought to win the favor of royalty. (But if you try courting anyone in a modern courtroom, you'll probably be accused of bribery.)

Primary Meanings of court

1.
 n
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
2.
 n
the sovereign and his advisers who are the governing power of a state
3.
 n
an area wholly or partly surrounded by walls or buildings
4.
 nv
respectful deference
seek someone's favor
Full Definitions of court
1

n an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

Synonyms:
judicature, tribunal
Examples:
Spanish Inquisition
an inquisition initiated in 1478 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella that guarded the orthodoxy of Catholicism in Spain (especially from the 15th to the 17th centuries)
Congregation of the Inquisition
an inquisition set up in Italy in 1542 to curb the number of Protestants
Types:
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court of justice, court of law, lawcourt
a tribunal that is presided over by a magistrate or by one or more judges who administer justice according to the laws
International Court of Justice, World Court
a court established to settle disputes between members of the United Nations
appeals court, appellate court, court of appeals
a court whose jurisdiction is to review decisions of lower courts or agencies
assizes, court of assize, court of assize and nisi prius
the county courts of England (replaced in 1971 by Crown courts)
chancery, court of chancery
a court with jurisdiction in equity
consistory
a church tribunal or governing body
criminal court
a court having jurisdiction over criminal cases
divorce court
a court having jurisdiction over the termination of marriage contracts
court of domestic relations, domestic relations court, family court
a court in some states in the United States that has jurisdiction over family disputes (especially those involving children)
federal court
a court establish by the authority of a federal government
F.I.S.C., Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
a secret federal court created in 1978 by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act; responsible for authorizing wiretaps and other forms of electronic surveillance and for authorizing searches of suspected spies and terrorists by the Department of Justice or United States intelligence agencies
inferior court, lower court
any court whose decisions can be appealed to a higher court
Inquisition
a former tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church (1232-1820) created to discover and suppress heresy
juvenile court
a court having jurisdiction over dependent and delinquent children
kangaroo court
an irregular unauthorized court
military court
a judicial court of commissioned officers for the discipline and punishment of military personnel
moot court
a mock court where law students argue hypothetical cases
police court
a court that has power to prosecute for minor offenses and to bind over for trial in a superior court anyone accused of serious offenses
probate court
a court having jurisdiction over the probate of wills and the administration of estates
quarter sessions
a local court with criminal jurisdiction and sometimes administrative functions
Rota
(Roman Catholic Church) the supreme ecclesiastical tribunal for cases appealed to the Holy See from diocesan courts
Star Chamber
a former English court that became notorious for its arbitrary methods and severe punishments
superior court
any court that has jurisdiction above an inferior court
high court, state supreme court, supreme court
the highest court in most states of the United States
traffic court
a court that has power to prosecute for traffic offenses
trial court
the first court before which the facts of a case are decided
circuit court of appeals
one of the twelve federal United States courts of appeals that cover a group of states known as a `circuit'
court-martial
a military court to try members of the armed services who are accused of serious breaches of martial law
night court
a criminal court (in large cities) that sits at night
Old Bailey
the central criminal court in London
provost court
a military court for trying people charged with minor offenses in an occupied area
Supreme Court, Supreme Court of the United States, United States Supreme Court
the highest federal court in the United States; has final appellate jurisdiction and has jurisdiction over all other courts in the nation
Type of:
assembly
a group of persons who are gathered together for a common purpose

n a tribunal that is presided over by a magistrate or by one or more judges who administer justice according to the laws

Synonyms:
court of justice, court of law, lawcourt
Type of:
judicature, tribunal
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

n a room in which a lawcourt sits

Synonyms:
courtroom
Type of:
room
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
2

n the sovereign and his advisers who are the governing power of a state

Synonyms:
royal court
Types:
Court of Saint James's
the British royal court
Porte, Sublime Porte
the Ottoman court in Constantinople
Type of:
authorities, government, regime
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

n the family and retinue of a sovereign or prince

Synonyms:
royal court
Type of:
cortege, entourage, retinue, suite
the group following and attending to some important person

n the residence of a sovereign or member of the nobility

“the king will visit the duke's court”
Type of:
residence
the official house or establishment of an important person (as a sovereign or president)
3

n an area wholly or partly surrounded by walls or buildings

“the house was built around an inner court”
Synonyms:
courtyard
Types:
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atrium
the central area in a building; open to the sky
bailey
the outer courtyard of a castle
cloister
a courtyard with covered walks (as in religious institutions)
food court
an area (as in a shopping mall) where fast food is sold (usually around a common eating area)
forecourt
the outer or front court of a building or of a group of buildings
parvis
a courtyard or portico in front of a building (especially a cathedral)
Type of:
area
a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function

n a specially marked horizontal area within which a game is played

“players had to reserve a court in advance”
Types:
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badminton court
the court on which badminton is played
basketball court
the court on which basketball is played
handball court
the court on which handball is played
piste
a flat rectangular area for fencing bouts
squash court
the indoor court in which squash is played
tennis court
the court on which tennis is played
volleyball court
the court on which volleyball is played
home court
(basketball) the court where the host team plays its home games
Type of:
athletic field, field, playing area, playing field
a piece of land prepared for playing a game

n a hotel for motorists; provides direct access from rooms to parking area

Synonyms:
motor hotel, motor inn, motor lodge, tourist court
Types:
motel
a motor hotel
Type of:
hotel
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
4

n respectful deference

“pay court to the emperor”
Synonyms:
homage
Type of:
deference, respect
a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard

v seek someone's favor

Synonyms:
woo

v make amorous advances towards

“John is courting Mary”
Synonyms:
romance, solicit, woo
Types:
chase, chase after
pursue someone sexually or romantically
display
attract attention by displaying some body part or posing; of animals
Type of:
act, move
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

v engage in social activities leading to marriage

“We were courting for over ten years”
Type of:
act, move
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

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