noun
solitaire
SOL-ih-teh-uh
Solitaire (noun) means a card game played by one person alone. Example: “She passed the long flight playing solitaire on her phone.”
noun
1
A card game played by one person alone.
"Mr. Greenwood said yesterday that he always finished his work in a timely fashion, and that he played solitaire only when there was nothing else left to do, usually a few times a week or during lunch breaks."
— Winnie Hu, Solitaire Costs Man His City Job After Bloomberg Sees Computer (2006)
"She passed the long flight playing solitaire on her phone."
2
A single gemstone, especially a diamond, set by itself in a piece of jewelry.
"He proposed with a classic solitaire diamond ring."
How to use solitaire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA card game for one, or a single gem set alone in jewelry — both senses come from the idea of being alone or singular.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
play solitaire
solitaire ring
solitaire diamond
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more solitaire
- Superlative
- most solitaire
Fill the gap
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She passed the long flight playing _____ on her phone.
Etymology
Borrowed from French solitaire ("solitary"), from Latin sōlitārius — a doublet of the English word solitary.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for solitaire
See all rhymes for solitaire →Frequently asked questions
What does “solitaire” mean?
The word “solitaire” means a card game played by one person alone. In plain terms, a card game for one, or a single gem set alone in jewelry — both senses come from the idea of being alone or singular.
How do you pronounce “solitaire”?
“Solitaire” is pronounced SOL-ih-teh-uh (/ˈsɑ.ləˌtɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “solitaire” in a sentence?
Here is “solitaire” used in a sentence: “She passed the long flight playing solitaire on her phone.”
What part of speech is “solitaire”?
“Solitaire” is a noun.
Where does the word “solitaire” come from?
The word “solitaire” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French solitaire ("solitary"), from Latin sōlitārius — a doublet of the English word solitary.
How many meanings does “solitaire” have?
“Solitaire” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a card game played by one person alone.
