crown

/kɹaʊ̯n/

crown means the sovereign of a monarchy; often with reference to that of the Commonwealth realms.

crown is pronounced /kɹaʊ̯n/.

Why “crown” is a great word

The sovereign or government of a monarchy, especially in the context of the Commonwealth realms. From Middle English *coroune*, from Anglo-Norman *corone*, from Latin *corōna* ("garland, wreath, crown"), from Ancient Greek κορώνη (*korṓnē*, "garland, wreath"). Unlike "government" (a general term for a system of rule) or "throne" (the literal seat or figurative office), the Crown is the indivisible legal persona of the state as embodied in the monarch—a living metonym. It is the wax seal pressed into vellum, the impassive profile stamped upon a coin, and the cold, enduring weight of history worn upon a single human brow—the paradox of an institution both mortal and eternal, a crown without a head that still holds the power to command.

Etymology

From crown.

name

The sovereign of a monarchy; often with reference to that of the Commonwealth realms.
The government of a monarchy; often with reference to one that is a member of the Commonwealth realms.
A Crown attorney.

adj

Of, related to, or pertaining to a crown.e.g.“crown prince”
Of, related to, pertaining to the top of a tree or trees.e.g.“a crown fire”

noun

A royal, imperial or princely headdress; a diadem.e.g.“Before so many of Europe's crowns came tumbling off the heads of their royal owners, Continental Europe could show a rich variety in the matter of royal trains.”
A wreath or band for the head, especially one given as reward of victory or a mark of honor.
Any reward of victory or mark of honor.e.g.“the martyr’s crown”
Imperial or regal power, or those who wield it.
The sovereign (in a monarchy), as head of state.
The state, the government (headed by a monarch).e.g.“Treasure recovered from shipwrecks automatically becomes property of the Crown.”
The police (referring to Crown Victoria police cars).
The top part of something:; The topmost part of the head.
The top part of something:; The topmost part of the head.; During childbirth, the appearance of the baby's head from the mother's vagina.
The top part of something:; The topmost part of the head.; A round spot shaved clean on the top of the head, as a mark of the clerical state; the tonsure.
The top part of something:; The highest part of a hill.
The top part of something:; The top section of a hat, above the brim.
The top part of something:; The raised centre of a road.e.g.“Watt was beginning to tire of running his eyes up and down this highway, when a figure, human apparently, advancing along its crown, arrested, and revived, his attention.”
The top part of something:; The highest part of an arch.e.g.“The arch failed first at the crown, then at the quarterings, and finally at the springings.”
The top part of something:; The upper range of facets in a rose diamond.

verb

To place a crown on the head of.e.g.“The king of the Huns was crowned with steel, and rode a stallion red,/Saying: “Proud must my father’s spirit feel of me who crowned my head […]””
To formally declare (someone) a king, queen, emperor, etc.
To bestow something upon as a mark of honour, dignity, or recompense; to adorn; to dignify.e.g.“Thou […] hast crowned him with glory and honour.”
To form the topmost or finishing part of; to complete; to consummate; to perfect.e.g.“the grove that crowns yon tufted hill”
To declare (someone) a winner.e.g.“New Zealand were crowned world champions for the first time in 24 years after squeezing past an inspired France team by a single point.”
Of a baby, during the birthing process; for the surface of the baby's head to appear in the vaginal opening.e.g.“The mother was in the second stage of labor and the fetus had just crowned, prompting a round of encouragement from the midwives.”
To cause to round upward; to make anything higher at the middle than at the edges, such as the face of a machine pulley.
To hit on the head.
To shoot an opponent in the back of the head with a shotgun in a first-person shooter video game.
In checkers, to stack two checkers to indicate that the piece has become a king.e.g.““Crown me!” I said, as I moved my checker to the back row.”
Of a forest fire or bushfire, to spread to the crowns of the trees and thence move from tree to tree independent of the surface fire.
To widen the opening of the barrel.
To effect a lodgment upon, as upon the crest of the glacis, or the summit of the breach.
To lay the ends of the strands of (a knot) over and under each other.
To be on the point of defecating.e.g.“Where's the bathroom, I'm crowning here!”

Words closest in meaning

By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.

diadem 88% match — An ornamental headband worn as a badge of royalty. vs crown →
regalia 85% match — Royal rights, prerogatives and privileges actually enjoyed by any sovereign, regardless of his title (emperor, grand duke etc.). vs crown →
sovereign 84% match — Exercising power of rule. vs crown →
regal 84% match — Of, pertaining to, or suitable for royalty. vs crown →
uncrown 83% match — To deprive of the monarchy or other authority or status. vs crown →
monarch 83% match — The ruler of an absolute monarchy or the head of state of a constitutional monarchy. vs crown →
coronate 83% match — To crown (a sovereign or champion). vs crown →
anadem 83% match — A headband, especially a garland of flowers. vs crown →