Checkmate (ch&ebreve_;kmāt), n. [F. échec et mat, fr. Per. shāh māt checkmate, lit., the king is dead, fr. Ar. māta he died, is dead. The king, when made prisoner, or checkmated, is assumed to be dead, and the game is finished. See Chess.] 1. The position in the game of chess when a king is in check and cannot be released, -- which ends the game.
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2. A complete check; utter defeat or overthrow.
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