First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1ace
noun \ˈās\
: a playing card with one large figure in its center that can be the card with either the highest or lowest value
: a person who is very skilled at something
: a point scored on a serve that an opponent fails to hit in tennis
Full Definition of ACE
1
a : a die face marked with one spot b : a playing card marked in its center with one pip c : a domino end marked with one spot
2
: a very small amount or degree : particle
3
: a point scored especially on a service (as in tennis or handball) that an opponent fails to touch
4
: a golf score of one stroke on a hole; also : a hole made in one stroke
5
: a combat pilot who has brought down at least five enemy airplanes
6
a : a person who excels at something <a computer ace> b : the best pitcher on a baseball team <the ace of the staff>
— ace in the hole
1
: an ace dealt face down to a player (as in stud poker) and not exposed until the showdown
2
: an effective and decisive argument or resource held in reserve
— within an ace of
: on the point of : very near to <came within an ace of winning>
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Origin of ACE
Middle English as, from Anglo-French, from Latin, unit, a copper coin
Related to ACE
- Synonyms
- expert, adept, artist, authority, cognoscente, connoisseur, crackerjack (also crackajack), dab [chiefly British], dab hand [chiefly British], fiend, geek, guru, hand, hotshot, maestro, master, maven (also mavin), meister, past master, proficient, scholar, shark, sharp, virtuoso, whiz, wizard
2ace
verb
: to earn a very high grade on (an examination) : to get a grade of A on (an examination) : to perform very well on (a test or challenge)
: to score an ace against (an opponent in tennis)
: to score an ace on (a hole in golf)
acedac·ing
Full Definition of ACE
transitive verb
1
: to score an ace against (an opponent)
2
: to make (a hole in golf) in one stroke
3
: to gain a decisive advantage over : defeat —usually used with out
4
a : to earn a high grade on (as an examination); especially : to get an A on b : to perform extremely well in <he aced every subject>
See ace defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of ACE
1923
3ace
adjective
Definition of ACE
: of first or high rank or quality <an ace mechanic>
First Known Use of ACE
1926
Related to ACE
- Synonyms
- accomplished, proficient, adept, compleat, complete, consummate, crack, crackerjack, educated, experienced, expert, good, great, master, masterful, masterly, practiced (also practised), professed, skilled, skillful, versed, veteran, virtuoso
- Antonyms
- amateur, amateurish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, unprofessional, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful
ACE
abbreviation
Definition of ACE
American Council on Education
Other Education Terms
ACE Defined for Kids
1ace
noun \ˈās\
Definition of ACE for Kids
1
: a playing card with one figure in its center
2
: 2expert <a flying ace>
Word History of ACE
An Old French word referring to the side of a dice with one spot came from a Latin word as, the name of a small coin, perhaps because a throw of “one” in a gambling game was only worth a single as. The English word ace was borrowed from the Old French word. Later, ace was extended in meaning from the side of a dice with one spot to a playing card with a single mark. Other meanings have come from this sense.
2ace
adjective
Definition of ACE for Kids
: of the very best kind <an ace reporter>
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Seen & Heard
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