Definitions of courts
British English : court To court a particular person, group, or country means to try to please them or improve your relations with them, often so that they will do something that you want them to do. VERBBoth parties are courting former supporters of the presidential candidate.
noun
- an area of ground wholly or partly surrounded by walls or buildings
- (British ) (capital when part of a name) a block of flats ⇒ Selwyn Court a mansion or country house a short street, sometimes closed at one end
- a block of flats ⇒ Selwyn Court
- a mansion or country house
- a short street, sometimes closed at one end
- a space inside a building, sometimes surrounded with galleries
- the residence, retinues, or household of a sovereign or nobleman (as modifier) ⇒ a court ball
- the residence, retinues, or household of a sovereign or nobleman
- (as modifier) ⇒ a court ball
- a sovereign or prince and his retinue, advisers, etc
- any formal assembly, reception, etc, held by a sovereign or nobleman with his courtiers
- homage, flattering attention, or amorous approaches (esp in the phrase pay court to someone)
- (law ) an authority having power to adjudicate in civil, criminal, military, or ecclesiastical matters the regular sitting of such a judicial authority the room or building in which such a tribunal sits
- an authority having power to adjudicate in civil, criminal, military, or ecclesiastical matters
- the regular sitting of such a judicial authority
- the room or building in which such a tribunal sits
- a marked outdoor or enclosed area used for any of various ball games, such as tennis, squash, etc a marked section of such an area ⇒ the service court
- a marked outdoor or enclosed area used for any of various ball games, such as tennis, squash, etc
- a marked section of such an area ⇒ the service court
- the board of directors or council of a corporation, company, etc (mainly British ) the supreme council of some universities
- the board of directors or council of a corporation, company, etc
- (mainly British ) the supreme council of some universities
- a branch of any of several friendly societies
- See go to court
- See hold court
- See out of court
- See the ball is in your court
- a block of flats ⇒ Selwyn Court
- a mansion or country house
- a short street, sometimes closed at one end
- the residence, retinues, or household of a sovereign or nobleman
- (as modifier) ⇒ a court ball
- an authority having power to adjudicate in civil, criminal, military, or ecclesiastical matters
- the regular sitting of such a judicial authority
- the room or building in which such a tribunal sits
- a marked outdoor or enclosed area used for any of various ball games, such as tennis, squash, etc
- a marked section of such an area ⇒ the service court
- the board of directors or council of a corporation, company, etc
- (mainly British ) the supreme council of some universities
verb
- to attempt to gain the love of (someone); woo
- (transitive) to pay attention to (someone) in order to gain favour
- (transitive) to try to obtain (fame, honour, etc)
- (transitive) to invite, usually foolishly, as by taking risks ⇒ to court disaster
- (old-fashioned ) to be conducting a serious emotional relationship usually leading to marriage
noun
- Margaret (née Smith). born 1942, Australian tennis player, winner of a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles: Australian Open champion 1960–66, 1969–71, and 1973; US Open champion 1962, 1965, 1969–70, and 1973; Wimbledon champion 1963, 1965, and 1970; French Open champion 1962, 1965, 1969–70, and 1973