cheops: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic / Historical
Quick answer
What does “cheops” mean?
The birth name of Pharaoh Khufu, the second king of the Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt, renowned for commissioning the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The birth name of Pharaoh Khufu, the second king of the Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt, renowned for commissioning the Great Pyramid of Giza.
The word 'Cheops' is primarily used as a historical reference to the Pharaoh Khufu. It may also metonymically refer to the Great Pyramid of Giza itself, or to ancient Egyptian civilization and monumental architecture. It can serve as a symbol of immense scale, antiquity, and architectural achievement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage; the term is identical in both standard varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of historical significance and ancient monumentality.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both UK and US English, found primarily in academic, historical, and archaeological contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cheops” in a Sentence
[proper noun]the [noun] of CheopsVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, archaeological, and Egyptological texts to refer to the pharaoh or his pyramid.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of travel or documentary contexts related to Egypt.
Technical
Used in archaeology, history, and architectural history to specify the builder of the Great Pyramid.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cheops”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cheops”
- Incorrect pluralisation (Cheops's, Cheopses) – it is a singular proper noun.
- Mispronunciation as /tʃiːɒps/ or /ˈtʃeɪ.ɒps/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Cheops is the Greek name for the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu.
No, it is specific to the Great Pyramid of Giza, though it is sometimes used poetically or metaphorically for something of immense scale.
In British English it is /ˈkiːɒps/ (KEE-ops). In American English it is /ˈkiːɑːps/ (KEE-ahps).
No, it is a low-frequency, specialized term found mainly in historical, archaeological, or travel-related contexts.
The birth name of Pharaoh Khufu, the second king of the Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt, renowned for commissioning the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Cheops is usually academic / historical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CHEOPS built the CHEOPS (the Great Pyramid). The name itself sounds ancient and monumental.
Conceptual Metaphor
A COLOSSAL UNDERTAKING IS A PYRAMID OF CHEOPS. (e.g., 'Organising this conference is like building the Pyramid of Cheops.')
Practice
Quiz
Cheops is most closely associated with which of the following?