Oxford Dictionary English

    ace

    noun
    noun
    BrE BrE//eɪs//
    ; NAmE NAmE//eɪs//
    Card games, Tennis
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  1. 1 a playing card with a large single symbol on it, which has either the highest or the lowest value in a particular card game the ace of spades/hearts/diamonds/clubs Wordfindercardace, card, cut, deal, gambling, hand, jack, shuffle, suit, trump Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivefighter, flying, goal, … See full entry See related entries: Card games
  2. 2(informal) a person who is very good at doing something a soccer/flying ace an ace marksman Brazilian ace Neilton scored a late penalty. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivefighter, flying, goal, … See full entry
  3. 3(in tennis) a serve (= the first hit) that is so good that your opponent cannot reach the ball He served 20 aces in the match. Del Potro has served fifteen aces in the match so far. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivefighter, flying, goal, … See full entry See related entries: Tennis
    4.  Word OriginMiddle English (denoting the “one” on dice): via Old French from Latin as ‘unity, a unit’.Idioms
    an ace up your sleeve (British English) (North American English an ace in the hole)
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    (informal) a secret advantage, for example a piece of information or a skill, that you are ready to use if you need to
    hold all the aces
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    to have all the advantages in a situation The union soon realized that the management held all the aces.
    play your ace
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    to use your best argument, etc. in order to get an advantage in a situation
    within an ace of something/of doing something
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    (British English) very close to something We came within an ace of victory.
See ace in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: ace
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