court
gb/kˈɔɹt/ us/kˈɔɹt/
A2
English
~ 400
bíróság, tárgyalóterem, pálya, udvarol, megnyerni próbál, udvar, királyi udvar, bajt keres, kockáztat
NOUN
A2
1
bíróság
B1
Usage pattern:
in [a/the] court
The trial will take place in the city court.
A tárgyalásra a városi bíróságon kerül sor.
She was summoned to appear in court next Monday.
Beidézték, hogy jövő hétfőn jelenjen meg a bíróságon.
The court ruled in favor of the defendant.
He spent the day testifying in court.
The lawyer presented evidence before the court.
Learner examples
The man is in court today.
A férfi ma bíróságon van.
I saw the judge in the court.
Láttam a bírót a tárgyalóteremben.
She went to court for her case.
The court is busy this morning.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'court' with 'courtyard', which is an open space outside a building.
Meaning
Place for legal proceedings
Collocations
go to court
|court hearing
|court case
|court order
|court ruling
Synonyms
tribunal (More formal term, often used for special or military courts.)
Antonyms
street (Contrasts with the official, legal setting of a court.)
Themes
law
|government
Definition
A place where a judge decides if someone has broken the law.
A place where judges hear and decide legal cases.
NOUN
A2
2
pálya
A2
Usage pattern:
on [a/the] court
They met on the basketball court after school.
Iskola után a kosárlabdapályán találkoztak.
The tennis courts are closed for maintenance.
A teniszpályák karbantartás miatt zárva vannak.
She is the best player on the court.
The referee entered the court to start the game.
Learner examples
We play tennis on a court.
Teniszt pályán játszunk.
The basketball court is big.
A kosárlabdapálya nagy.
They clean the court before the game.
I run fast on the court.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'court' with 'field' when talking about sports; 'court' is not used for soccer or rugby.
Meaning
Sports playing area
Collocations
tennis court
|basketball court
|on court
|court surface
Synonyms
playing field (Usually for outdoor field sports, not indoor court games.)
Antonyms
field (Used for grass-based sports rather than hard-surface sports areas.)
Themes
sports
Definition
A marked space where you play sports like tennis or basketball.
An area marked out for playing sports such as tennis, basketball, or volleyball.
VERB
B2
3
udvarol
B1
Usage pattern:
to court [someone]
He spent months courting her before they got engaged.
Hónapokig udvarolt neki, mielőtt eljegyezték egymást.
The company is courting investors from abroad.
A cég külföldi befektetőket próbál megnyerni.
She has been courting his attention for weeks.
Learner examples
He is courting her now.
Most udvarol neki.
They are courting each other.
Udvarolnak egymásnak.
The man wants to court the woman.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'court' in this sense only applies to love, but it can also mean seeking approval from groups or people in power.
Meaning
Seek love or approval
Collocations
court favor
|court popularity
|courting couples
Synonyms
woo (More romantic and old-fashioned than 'court'.)
Antonyms
ignore (Shows no attempt to get attention or affection.)
Themes
relationships
Definition
To try to make someone love you or like you.
To try to win the romantic affection or social approval of someone.
NOUN
B1
4
bíróság
B1
The court decided in favor of the plaintiff.
A bíróság a felperes javára döntött.
The court will hear your case next month.
A bíróság a jövő hónapban tárgyalja az ügyét.
Court proceedings resumed after lunch.
Learner examples
The court starts at 9 a.m.
A bírósági tárgyalás reggel 9-kor kezdődik.
The court listens to the case.
A bíróság tárgyalja az ügyet.
The court makes a decision.
Meaning
Legal body and process
Collocations
the court decided
|the court finds
|court proceedings
Synonyms
judiciary (More formal and institutional term for legal authorities.)
Antonyms
public opinion (Contrasts with formal legal judgment.)
Themes
law
Definition
The people and actions that make up a trial.
The judges and legal officials, and the activities involved in a trial or hearing.
NOUN
B2
5
udvar
B2
He was summoned to appear at the royal court.
A királyi udvarba rendelték.
Life at court was full of intrigue and politics.
Az udvari élet tele volt intrikákkal és politikai játszmákkal.
The king's court welcomed foreign ambassadors.
Learner examples
The king lives in the court.
A király a királyi udvarban él.
Many people work in the royal court.
Sokan dolgoznak a királyi udvarban.
They visit the queen at her court.
Meaning
Royal household and advisors
Collocations
royal court
|at court
|court intrigue
Synonyms
palace staff (Refers specifically to people working in a palace, not the political institution.)
Antonyms
commoners (Ordinary people not part of royal life.)
Themes
history
|politics
Definition
The home of a king or queen and the people who work for them.
The official residence of a monarch and the people who work there or advise them.
VERB
B2
6
bajt keres
B1
kockáztat
B1
Usage pattern:
to court [danger/trouble/disaster]
By ignoring safety rules, he was courting disaster.
A biztonsági szabályok figyelmen kívül hagyásával katasztrófát kockáztatott.
She courted controversy with her latest comments.
Legújabb megjegyzéseivel szinte kereste a vitát.
They are courting trouble by breaking the law.
Learner examples
He courts danger when he drives fast.
A bajt keresi, amikor gyorsan vezet.
She courts trouble by talking too much.
A bajt keresi azzal, hogy túl sokat beszél.
We should not court disaster.
Meaning
Invite danger or trouble
Collocations
court disaster
|court danger
|court controversy
Synonyms
invite trouble (Less formal, more conversational version of 'court trouble'.)
Antonyms
avoid risk (To take care not to cause harm or problems.)
Themes
risk
|daily_life
Definition
To do something that will probably bring you trouble or danger.
To behave in a way that is likely to cause something bad to happen to oneself.
Grammar
Dictionary form
court
IPA
GB/kˈɔɹt/
US/kˈɔɹt/
Syllables & stress
court (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (court)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: court
- Plural: court, courts
Verb
- Base: court
- 3rd Person Singular: courts
- Present Participle: courting
- Past: courted
Word family
Expressions
day in court
1/dˈeɪ ˈɪn kˈɔɹt/
idiom
Chance to be heard fairly
A chance to explain your side of something in front of others, often in law.
Examples
- Everyone deserves their day in court.
- He finally got his day in court after years of waiting.
go to court
1/ɡˈoʊ tə kˈɔɹt/
fixed phrase
Take a case to a judge
To ask a judge to decide about a problem or crime.
Examples
- If they don't pay, we'll have to go to court.
- She went to court to fight the fine.
hold court
1/hˈoʊld kˈɔɹt/
idiom
informal
Be center of attention socially
To be the main person talking and entertaining people in a group.
Examples
- He was holding court at the bar, telling stories all night.
- She loves holding court at family gatherings.
take someone to court
1/tˈeɪk sˈʌmwˌʌn tə kˈɔɹt/
fixed phrase
Sue someone legally
To make someone go before a judge because you think they did something wrong.
Examples
- They took the company to court over unpaid wages.
- She threatened to take him to court if he didn't fix the problem.