Английский разговорный словарь (основной) - ace

eɪs n. & adj. --n. 1 a a playing-card, domino, etc., with a single spot and generally having the value 'one' or in card-games the highest value in each suit. b a single spot on a playing-card etc. 2 a a person who excels in some activity. b Aeron. a pilot who has shot down many enemy aircraft. 3 a (in lawn tennis) a stroke (esp. a service) too good for the opponent to return. b a point scored in this way. --adj. sl. excellent. øace up one's sleeve (US in the hole) something effective kept in reserve. play one's ace use one's best resource. within an ace of on the verge of. [ME f. OF f. L as unity, AS(2)]