bezique: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very low
UK/bɪˈziːk/US/bəˈziːk/

Formal, historical, technical (card games)

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Quick answer

What does “bezique” mean?

A trick-taking card game for two players, played with two decks from which cards below seven are removed.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A trick-taking card game for two players, played with two decks from which cards below seven are removed.

A meld or combination of cards in the game of bezique, especially the queen of spades and jack of diamonds.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The game was historically more popular in Britain and Europe than in the US. The American variant 'pinochle' is derived from bezique.

Connotations

In both varieties, it connotes an old-fashioned, complex card game, often associated with a bygone era.

Frequency

Extremely rare in contemporary usage in both regions, slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical contexts or literature.

Grammar

How to Use “bezique” in a Sentence

to play beziquea game of beziqueto score a bezique

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
play beziquegame of beziquebezique set
medium
historical beziquebezique rulesdouble bezique
weak
old beziquecompetitive beziquebezique tournament

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Rarely used, only in historical or game theory contexts.

Everyday

Virtually never used in modern everyday conversation.

Technical

Used specifically in the context of card game history, rules, and classification.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “bezique”

Neutral

pinochle (US variant)card game

Weak

trick-taking game

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “bezique”

  • Misspelling as 'besique' or 'bezik'.
  • Using it as a general term for any card game.
  • Incorrect pronunciation with a /z/ sound at the beginning (should be a soft /bɪ/ or /bə/).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It is very rarely played, mostly by card game historians or enthusiasts of historical games.

Pinochle is an American card game directly derived from bezique, but typically played with different deck composition and slightly altered rules for melds and scoring.

Classic bezique is a game for two players.

The game it describes fell out of widespread popularity in the early 20th century, replaced by other card games, making the term largely historical.

A trick-taking card game for two players, played with two decks from which cards below seven are removed.

Bezique is usually formal, historical, technical (card games) in register.

Bezique: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈziːk/, and in American English it is pronounced /bəˈziːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think 'BE ZEalous for a unIQUE card game' -> BE-ZIQUE.

Conceptual Metaphor

A complex, layered strategy is a game of bezique.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
In the 19th century, it was common for couples to spend an evening playing .
Multiple Choice

What is 'bezique' primarily?