noun
plural aces
[count] a playing card with one large figure in its center that can be the card with either the highest or lowest value
a person who is very skilled at something
a point scored on a serve that an opponent fails to hit in tennis
US :a score of one on a hole in golf :hole in one
an ace in the hole
US or chiefly Brit an ace up your sleeve
If you have an ace in the hole or an ace up your sleeve, you have a powerful and often secret weapon, advantage, etc., that you can use if it is needed.
hold all the aces
to have a strong advantage over others in a contest, competition, etc.
within an ace of
informal :very near to (doing something)
verb
aces; aced; acing
[+ obj] US informal :to earn a very high grade on (an examination) :to get a grade of A on (an examination)
to score an ace against (an opponent in tennis)
US :to score an ace on (a hole in golf)
US