n.
- a circular ornamental headdress worn by a monarch as a symbol of authority.
▸
(the Crown)
the monarchy or reigning monarch.
▸a wreath of leaves or flowers, especially that worn as an emblem of victory in ancient Greece or Rome.
- an award or distinction gained by a victory or achievement, especially in sport.
- the top or highest part.
▸the top part of a person's head or a hat.
▸the upper branching part of a tree or other plant.
▸the upper part of a cut gem, above the girdle.
- the part of a tooth projecting from the gum.
▸an artificial replacement or covering for the upper part of a tooth.
- a British coin with a face value of five shillings or 25 pence, now minted only for commemorative purposes.
-
(in full metric crown)
a paper size, 384 × 504 mm.
▸
(in full crown octavo)
a book size, 186 × 123 mm.
▸
(in full crown quarto)
a book size, 246 × 189 mm.
v.
- ceremonially place a crown on the head of (someone) to invest them as a monarch.
▸declare to be the best, especially at a sport:
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he was crowned world champion.
▸(in draughts) promote (a piece) to king by placing another on top of it.
- rest on or form the top of.
- be the triumphant culmination of (an effort or endeavour).
- fit a crown to (a tooth).
- informal hit on the head.
- (of a baby's head during labour) fully appear in the vaginal opening prior to emerging.
Etymology
ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. corune (n.), coruner (v.), OFr. corone, coroner, from L. corona ‘wreath, chaplet’.
