Queen
/kwiːn/
Definitions
5 meaningsA female ruler of a country, or the wife of a king.
/kwiːn/
A female monarch or ruler.
The queen addressed her subjects from the balcony.
💡 Simply: Imagine a country like a big house. The queen is the boss lady who makes the rules, just like your mom sometimes!
👶 For kids: A queen is a girl who is the boss of a whole country!
More Examples
The country celebrated the queen's birthday.
Queen Victoria ruled the British Empire for many years.
How It's Used
"The queen of England is the head of state."
"Queen Elizabeth I was a powerful figure in English history."
A woman pre-eminent in a particular sphere.
/kwiːn/
A woman considered the most beautiful or excellent of her kind.
She was the queen of the fashion world.
💡 Simply: If someone is really, really good at something, like the best dancer or the coolest person, you can say they're the queen of it!
👶 For kids: A girl or woman who's the best at something, like a dancing queen!
More Examples
He considered her the queen of his heart.
In her field, she was the queen.
How It's Used
"She was the queen of the ball, dazzling everyone with her grace."
"She's the queen of the office, always knowing the latest gossip."
The most powerful piece in the game of chess, able to move in any direction.
/kwiːn/
The most important piece in the game of chess.
She sacrificed her queen to gain a tactical advantage.
💡 Simply: The chess queen is like a superhero. It can move all over the board to catch other pieces and help you win!
👶 For kids: In chess, the queen is the strongest piece that can move in any direction!
More Examples
The queen is a key piece in any chess strategy.
Losing the queen can often lead to defeat.
How It's Used
"The queen is the most powerful piece on the chessboard."
To make someone a queen; to enthrone a queen.
/kwiːn/
To make someone a queen.
The king's goal was to queen his bride in a lavish ceremony.
💡 Simply: In olden times, it meant making someone a queen, like giving them a crown and a kingdom!
👶 For kids: To make someone a queen or the most powerful person of a country.
How It's Used
"The king sought to queen his new bride."
The fertile female in a colony of social insects, such as bees, ants, or termites.
/kwiːn/
A female bee, ant, or termite.
The colony relies on the queen for reproduction.
💡 Simply: In a bee or ant family, the queen is the mommy who's in charge of making new babies and running the whole family!
👶 For kids: The boss bee or ant that lays eggs.
More Examples
The queen ant is larger than the other members of the colony.
If the queen dies, the colony will eventually collapse.
How It's Used
"The queen bee is responsible for laying eggs."
Idioms & expressions
queen bee
A dominant, popular woman within a group, especially among females.
"She was the queen bee of the high school, and everyone wanted to be her friend."
be queen for a day
To experience special treatment or luxury for a limited time, like a queen.
"For her birthday, she wanted to be queen for a day and be pampered at a spa."
From Old English *cwēn*, *cwēne* ('woman, queen'), from Proto-Germanic *kwēniz* ('wife, woman'), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷḗn* ('woman').
The term 'queen' has been used since Old English times, initially to denote a female ruler or consort. The term's prominence has varied throughout history, closely tied to monarchical systems and cultural contexts.
Memory tip
Think of the person in charge of the kingdom. The queen is like the king but female.
Word Origin
"wife, woman"