What does "ko" mean?
A local shape to which the ko rule applies; a ko shape.
Ko
/ˈkəʊ/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A local shape to which the ko rule applies; a ko shape.
- Grammar: ko is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: knockout, acknowledged, anesthetize, ascendancy.
- Useful contrasts: advocate, clear, continue.
- Usage evidence: In the game of Go, the rule of Ko (a term meaning eternity in Japanese) prevents repeating indefinitely between adjacent intersections, now the capture of a stone by a player, and then the capture of the capturing stone by the opponent.
How to use "ko"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ko" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "ko" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "ko" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "ko" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ko" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "knockout" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "ko", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A local shape to which the ko rule applies; a ko shape.
"Black gets an easy game by just filling the ko."
- 2 Abbreviation of knock out. abbreviation, alt-of
- 3 a blow that renders the opponent unconscious wordnet
- 4 ko fight
"Black wins the ko easily."
- 5 Abbreviation of kick-off (“the time or manner of start of play”). abbreviation, alt-of
Show 1 more definition
- 6 a stone in a ko in atari, a ko stone
"Black recaptures the ko and white has to find another ko threat."
Verb
- 1 To knock someone out; to render someone unconscious. transitive
"Joe KO'd the opposing boxer."
- 2 To start play. intransitive
Proper Noun
- 1 Synonym of Fungor (“language of Sudan”).
- 2 A surname.
Example
"In the game of Go, the rule of Ko (a term meaning eternity in Japanese) prevents repeating indefinitely between adjacent intersections, now the capture of a stone by a player, and then the capture of the capturing stone by the opponent."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "ko"?
Common synonyms include: knockout, acknowledged, anesthetize, ascendancy, bedaze, benumb.
How do you use "ko" in a sentence?
In the game of Go, the rule of Ko (a term meaning eternity in Japanese) prevents repeating indefinitely between adjacent intersections, now the capture of a stone by a player, and then the capture of the capturing stone by the opponent.
How do you pronounce "ko"?
Pronounced /ˈkəʊ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Japanese 劫 (kō).
Etymology 2
From Mandarin 柯 (Kʻo¹), 葛 (Ko²), Cantonese 高 (gou1), Korean 고 (Go), etc.
Etymology 3
Initialism of knock out. Initialism of kick-off.