n.
Pronunciation: ' ā s
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English as, from Anglo-French, from Latin, unit, a copper coin
Date: 14th century
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>