court

[[t]kɔrt, koʊrt[/t]]

n.

1) law

a) a place where legal justice is administered

b) a judicial tribunal duly constituted for the hearing and determination of cases

c) a session of a judicial assembly

2) bui archit. an area open to the sky and mostly or entirely surrounded by buildings, walls, etc

3) bui archit. a high interior usu. having a glass roof and surrounded by several stories of galleries or the like

4) brit. Chiefly Irish. a stately dwelling

5) a short street

6) spo

a) a smooth, level quadrangle on which to play tennis, basketball, etc

b) one of the divisions of such an area

7) the residence of a sovereign or other high dignitary; palace

8) a sovereign's or dignitary's retinue

9) gov a sovereign and councilors as the political rulers of a state

10) gov a formal assembly held by a sovereign

11) devoted attention in order to win favor; homage:

to pay court to a beloved[/ex]

12) a branch or lodge of a fraternal society

13) anb the group of insects, as honeybees, surrounding the queen; retinue

14) to try to win the favor or goodwill of:

to court the rich[/ex]

15) to seek the affections of; woo

16) anb (of animals) to attempt to attract (a mate) by engaging in certain species-specific behaviors

17) to attempt to gain (applause, favor, etc.)

18) to hold out inducements to; invite

19) to act so as to cause, lead to, or provoke:

to court disaster[/ex]

20) to seek another's love; woo

21) anb (of animals) to attempt to attract individuals of the opposite sex for mating

•

- hold court out of court

Etymology: 1125–75; ME co(u)rt < AF, OF < L cohortem, acc. of cohors farmyard; see cohort