noun
Common
dice
dys
Dice (noun) means Small cubes marked with numbers of dots, used in games of chance; plural of "die.". Example: “He rolled the dice and moved his piece four spaces.”
noun
1
Small cubes marked with numbers of dots, used in games of chance; plural of "die."
"He rolled the dice and moved his piece four spaces."
"They played a board game that used two dice each turn."
"The children argued over whose turn it was to shake the dice."
verb
1
To cut food into small cubes.
"Dice the onions finely before adding them to the pan."
"I diced the carrots and potatoes for the soup."
"Could you dice the peppers while I heat the oil?"
How to use dice
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe small numbered cubes used in games, or the act of chopping food into cubes.
Common mistake
Technically "die" is singular and "dice" is plural, but in everyday speech "dice" is now used for both ("roll a dice").
Common pairings
roll the dice
dice an onion
a pair of dice
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Word forms
- Plural
- dices
- Third person singular
- dices
- Past tense
- diced
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He rolled the _____ and moved his piece four spaces.
Etymology
From Middle English dys, plural of "die"; the spelling later shifted to reflect its pronunciation as a single collective word.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for dice
See all rhymes for dice →Frequently asked questions
What does “dice” mean?
The word “dice” means small cubes marked with numbers of dots, used in games of chance; plural of "die.". In plain terms, the small numbered cubes used in games, or the act of chopping food into cubes.
How do you pronounce “dice”?
“Dice” is pronounced dys (/daɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “dice” in a sentence?
Here is “dice” used in a sentence: “He rolled the dice and moved his piece four spaces.”
What is another word for “dice”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dice” include astragals.
What part of speech is “dice”?
Depending on how it is used, “dice” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “dice” come from?
The word “dice” comes from Middle English. From Middle English dys, plural of "die"; the spelling later shifted to reflect its pronunciation as a single collective word.
Is “dice” a common word?
“Dice” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dice” have?
“Dice” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: small cubes marked with numbers of dots, used in games of chance; plural of "die.".
What is the difference between "dice" and "die"?
"Die" is technically the singular form and "dice" the plural, referring to the small numbered cubes used in games of chance. In everyday speech, though, most people now use "dice" for both one and many, and "a die" sounds formal or old-fashioned outside specific gaming contexts.
When should you use "dice" as a verb instead of "chop" or "cube"?
Use "dice" when a recipe calls for cutting food into small, uniform cubes rather than larger or irregular pieces, which is what "chop" usually implies. "Cube" is close in meaning but tends to describe slightly larger pieces than dicing produces.
