chequerboard: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowNeutral to slightly formal/descriptive
Quick answer
What does “chequerboard” mean?
A square board divided into 64 smaller squares, arranged in eight rows and eight columns, typically with alternating contrasting colours (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A square board divided into 64 smaller squares, arranged in eight rows and eight columns, typically with alternating contrasting colours (e.g., black and white or red and black), used for playing board games such as chess or draughts/checkers.
A pattern, design, or area consisting of a regular arrangement of squares in two alternating colours, reminiscent of the game board. The term can also refer to anything characterised by a patchwork or varied arrangement of different elements or aspects.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'chequerboard' (with 'qu') is standard. In US English, the spelling 'checkerboard' (with 'ck') is strongly preferred. The UK term is etymologically linked to 'chequers' (the game), while the US term is linked to 'checkers' (the game).
Connotations
The term generally holds the same connotations in both dialects. 'Chequerboard' in the UK can have a slightly older, more traditional feel due to its spelling.
Frequency
Overall low frequency. 'Checkerboard' is significantly more common in global English due to the prevalence of US media. Within the UK, 'chequerboard' is the standard form.
Grammar
How to Use “chequerboard” in a Sentence
The [noun] resembled a chequerboard.A chequerboard of [plural noun] stretched before them.The floor was laid out in a chequerboard pattern.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chequerboard” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The fields were chequered with patches of snow and grass.
- The policy has chequered the regulatory landscape.
American English
- The fields were checkered with patches of snow and grass.
- The policy has checkered the regulatory landscape.
adverb
British English
- The tiles were arranged chequerboard-wise across the plaza.
American English
- The tiles were arranged checkerboard-style across the plaza.
adjective
British English
- They chose a chequerboard tile for the kitchen floor.
- The butterfly has a chequerboard wing pattern.
American English
- They chose a checkerboard tile for the kitchen floor.
- The butterfly has a checkerboard wing pattern.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically: 'The market landscape was a chequerboard of competing technologies.'
Academic
Used in mathematics (graph theory, tiling problems), art/design history, and descriptions of agricultural land patterns in geography.
Everyday
Most common when describing physical patterns (floors, tiles, fabric) or literally referring to a game board.
Technical
Used in computer graphics for creating test patterns or texture mapping, and in biology to describe patterned animal coats (e.g., chequerboard butterfly).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chequerboard”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chequerboard”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chequerboard”
- Misspelling as 'checkerboard' in a UK context. Using 'chequerboard' to refer to a chessboard in a highly specific chess context where 'chessboard' is more accurate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are often used interchangeably in general language. However, strictly speaking, a chessboard is a type of chequerboard specifically designed for chess. A draughts/checkers board is also a chequerboard. 'Chequerboard' is the more generic term for any board with that alternating square pattern.
UK English uses 'chequerboard' (related to 'chequers', the game). US English uses 'checkerboard' (related to 'checkers', the game). The US spelling is more common globally.
Yes, though it's less common. The verb form ('to chequer'/'to checker') means to mark with a pattern of contrasting squares or areas, or more figuratively, to diversify or variegate something. Example: 'The sunlight was checkered by the leaves.'
No, it is a low-frequency word. It is useful for descriptive language and specific contexts (games, design, geography), but for most learners, understanding its meaning when encountered is sufficient. Knowing the spelling variants (UK vs. US) is important for accurate writing.
A square board divided into 64 smaller squares, arranged in eight rows and eight columns, typically with alternating contrasting colours (e.
Chequerboard is usually neutral to slightly formal/descriptive in register.
Chequerboard: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɛkəbɔːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɛkərbɔːrd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Life is not a chequerboard. (Implies life is not a simple game of black and white choices.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CHEQUE (UK spelling). The pattern on a traditional bank cheque was often made of small, criss-crossing lines, creating a grid-like background, similar to a board for the game of 'chequers'.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORDER IS A GRID; DUALITY/OPPOSITION IS A PATTERN OF CONTRASTING SQUARES; A COMPLEX SITUATION IS A GAME BOARD.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the use of 'chequerboard' be LEAST appropriate?