- court
- ▪ I. court court 1 [kɔːt ǁ kɔːrt] noun1. the court the people in a court, especially the judge, other officials, and the jury (= ordinary people who decide certain cases). The phrase is often used when talking about what a judge or jury think or decide about a case:
• The court said the defendants had been denied a fair trial.
2. [countable] LAW a place where all the information concerning a crime or disagreement is given so that it can be judged:• The new laws haven't yet been tested in court.
• Sexual harassment is a criminal offense in Germany, but few women complain or go to court (= start the legal process to have a case dealt with in court ) .
• Federal authorities are free to take taxpayers to court to collect unpaid taxes.
• The two sides agreed to settle the case out of court (= without asking the court to make a decision ) .
ˈAdmiralty court [singular] LAWin Britain, a court that makes decisions about ships and the seaa court where someone can ask for a decision or judgement made in a lower court to be changed:• An appeals court overturned the $5.2 million award.
• A jury in a state court ruled in favor of the Morning News and an appellate court upheld the decision.
ˈbankruptcy court [countable] LAWa court that decides cases where companies are unable to continue trading because they cannot pay their debts and have gone bankrupt:• The company has filed for protection from creditors in bankruptcy court.
ˈcivil court [countable] LAWa court that makes decisions on legal cases brought by private citizens that concern private problems or disagreements rather than crimescomˈmercial court [countable] LAWa court that makes decisions in disagreements involving businessesˈcounty court [countable] LAWin Britain, a court that makes decisions on legal cases brought by private citizens within a particular area, that are not important enough to be heard in a High Courtˈcriminal court [countable] LAWa court where judgements about crimes are made:• Most lawyers without a criminal speciality aren't skilled enough to operate in criminal courts.
ˈCrown Court [countable] LAWin Britain, a court that deals with serious criminal cases and is higher than a Magistrates' Court:• He admitted eight theft charges at Liverpool Crown Court.
ˈdistrict court [countable] LAWin the US, a federal court at which a trial is first heard:• the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
ˈfamily court [countable] LAWin the US, a court that makes decisions about divorce casesˈFederal Court [countable] LAWin the US and some other countries, a court that makes decisions about cases at a national level rather than a state level:• the high quality of justice the nation has long expected of the Federal Courts
ˈHigh Court [singular] LAW1. an important court in London, that deals mainly with civil (= not criminal) cases for England and Wales:• A top sportswoman was awarded £230,981 damages in the High Court yesterday after being knocked down by a motorcycle.
2. an important court in Scotland for criminal and civil cases:• A man who was caught in possession of a stolen famous painting has been jailed for 18 months at the High Court in Edinburgh.
ˈlabour court , labor court [countable]a court in some countries that deals with cases or disagreements involving employers and employees:• Disagreements over important personnel issues such as hiring and firing are resolved in the labour court.
ˈmercantile court [countable] LAWthe name for a commercial court in some places:• the Manchester mercantile court
ˌsmall ˈclaims court [countable] LAWa court where disagreements between private citizens involving small amounts of money are decided without the use of lawyers:• Claims of up to £1,000 can be made in the small claims court, but in larger, more unusual cases you'll probably need a solicitor.
ˈstate court [countable] LAWin the US and some other countries, a court that makes decisions about cases at a state level rather than a national level:• Although some state courts allow cameras in courtrooms, they currently aren't permitted in Federal Court.
Suˈpreme Court LAW[singular] the most important court of law in some countries, and in some states of the US[m0] ▪ II. court court 2 verb [transitive]1. to behave nicely towards someone because you want them to do something for you or you want to get something from them:• A distinguished chemist, Ed Alexander has been courted by large corporations, but he stays in the classroom doing what he loves - teaching.
• The EU is being courted by a number of countries putting themselves forward as the best suppliers of energy.
2. FINANCE if one company courts another, it has discussions with the other company about the possibility of a friendly takeover or merger (= combining the companies ) :• While only Daimler-Benz has courted the luxury car company in public, Volkswagen is also said to be interested in buying it.
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Ⅰ.court UK US /kɔːt/ noun (also law court, also court of law)► [C or U] LAW a room or building in which trials and legal cases are decided, or the group of people, including, for example, a judge and other officials, who listen to and make decisions on legal cases: »Different courts are responsible for different types of cases.
»Unless a solution can be reached, the case will go to court later this month.
»The legality of electronic signatures is to be tested in court.
the court found/held »The website was shut down after a US district court held that the copying of albums was a violation of copyright law.
court case/hearing/trial »The court case is due to be heard next month.
→ See also ADMIRALTY COURT(Cf. ↑Admiralty court), APPEAL COURT(Cf. ↑appeal court), APPEALS COURT(Cf. ↑appeals court), CIVIL COURT(Cf. ↑civil court), COMMERCIAL COURT(Cf. ↑commercial court), COUNTY COURT(Cf. ↑county court), CRIMINAL COURT(Cf. ↑criminal court), CROWN COURT(Cf. ↑Crown Court), DISTRICT COURT(Cf. ↑district court), FEDERAL COURT(Cf. ↑federal court), HIGH COURT(Cf. ↑High Court), LABOUR COURT(Cf. ↑labour court), LAW COURT(Cf. ↑law court), OUT-OF-COURT(Cf. ↑out-of-court), TRIBUNAL(Cf. ↑tribunal), STATE COURT(Cf. ↑state court), SUPREME COURT(Cf. ↑Supreme Court)Ⅱ.court UK US /kɔːt/ verb [T]► to try to attract people, especially in order get something from them, for example, attention or support: »At this stage of a presidential race, candidates spend nearly all their time courting voters in their own party.
»Traditionally, the company has courted customers aged 50 or over.
► FINANCE to formally discuss with another company the possibility of buying or getting control of it: »The company is courting two takeover targets as it prepares to grow its healthcare business.
Financial and business terms. 2012.
