- a large Eurasian passerine bird, Corvus frugilegus, with a black plumage and a whitish base to its bill: family Corvidae (crows)
- slang a swindler or cheat, esp one who cheats at cards
- (transitive) slang to overcharge, swindle, or cheat
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
rook1 /rʊk/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
rook2 /rʊk/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to cheat or swindle:They rooked him out of his money.
rook2 /rʊk/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
- Chessone of two chess pieces of the same color that may be moved any number of unblocked squares right to left or forward and back;
a castle.
rook1 (rŏŏk),USA pronunciation
n.
v.t.
rook2 (rŏŏk),USA pronunciation n. [Chess.]
- Birdsa black, European crow, Corvus frugilegus, noted for its gregarious habits.
- a sharper at cards or dice;
swindler.
v.t.
- to cheat;
fleece;
swindle.
- bef. 900; Middle English rok(e), Old English hrōc; cognate with Old Norse hrōkr, Old High German hruoh
rook2 (rŏŏk),USA pronunciation n. [Chess.]
- Chessone of two pieces of the same color that may be moved any number of unobstructed squares horizontally or vertically;
castle.
- Persian rukh
- Arabic rukhkh
- Old French roc
- Middle English rok 1300–50
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
rook /rʊk/ n
rook /rʊk/ n
- a chesspiece that may move any number of unoccupied squares in a straight line, horizontally or verticallyAlso called: castle
'rook' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):