/ ˌtʃekˈmeɪt; NAmE ; ˈtʃekmeɪt/ (also mate ) noun [ U ]
1.
( in chess ) a position in which one player cannot prevent his or her king (= the most important piece) being captured and therefore loses the game
—see also check
—compare stalemate
2.
a situation in which sb has been completely defeated
► check·mate (also mate ) verb :
[ vn ]
His king had been checkmated.
She hoped the plan would checkmate her opponents.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French eschec mat , from Arabic šāh māta , from Persian šāh māt the king is dead.