cube
kyoob
Cube (noun) means a solid shape with six equal square faces. Example: “Drop one sugar cube into the tea and stir gently.”
noun
1
A solid shape with six equal square faces.
"Drop one sugar cube into the tea and stir gently."
"She stacked ice cubes into a small tower."
"The gift box was a perfect cube."
2
Informal term for a cubicle, especially in an office.
"Her cube is next to the window, so it is always bright."
"Everyone in the open-plan office decorated their cube with photos and plants."
"He spends most of his day in his cube answering emails."
verb
1
To multiply a number by itself twice (raise it to the third power).
"If you cube 3, you get 27."
2
To cut food or another material into small cube-shaped pieces.
"Chop the onion and cube the cheese for the salad."
"The chef cubed the bread to make crunchy croutons."
"Cube the potatoes before boiling them."
How to use cube
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA six-sided box shape, or the math operation of multiplying a number by itself three times, or slang for a small office space.
Common pairings
ice cube
cube root
office cube
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Word forms
- Plural
- cubes
- Third person singular
- cubes
- Past tense
- cubed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Drop one sugar _____ into the tea and stir gently.
Etymology
From Old French cube, from Latin cubus, from Greek kubos, originally meaning a die used in games.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for cube
See all rhymes for cube →Frequently asked questions
What does “cube” mean?
The word “cube” means a solid shape with six equal square faces. In plain terms, a six-sided box shape, or the math operation of multiplying a number by itself three times, or slang for a small office space.
How do you pronounce “cube”?
“Cube” is pronounced kyoob (/kjub/ in IPA).
How do you use “cube” in a sentence?
Here is “cube” used in a sentence: “She stacked ice cubes into a small tower.”
What is another word for “cube”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cube” include to cut into cubes.
What part of speech is “cube”?
Depending on how it is used, “cube” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cube” come from?
The word “cube” comes from Latin. From Old French cube, from Latin cubus, from Greek kubos, originally meaning a die used in games.
Is “cube” a common word?
“Cube” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “cube” have?
“Cube” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a solid shape with six equal square faces.
What is the difference between a cube and a square?
A square is a two-dimensional shape with four equal sides, while a cube is a three-dimensional solid shape with six equal square faces. Every face of a cube is a square, but a cube itself has volume and depth that a square does not.
What does it mean to 'cube' a number?
To cube a number means to multiply it by itself twice, or raise it to the third power, so cubing 3 gives 27. This mathematical sense of cube is distinct from the geometric sense of the solid shape.
What does it mean to cube food?
To cube food means to cut it into small cube-shaped pieces, such as cubing potatoes or meat before cooking. This is a common instruction in recipes calling for evenly sized pieces.
What does 'cube' mean in an office context?
In an office, a cube is an informal term for a cubicle, a small partitioned workspace. It is a casual shorthand rather than a formal term.
