# cricket

/ˈkɹɪkət/ (US) · /kɹˈɪkɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cricket
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the insect

noun · CEFR A2

a small jumping insect that makes a loud chirping sound at night.

For teachers: any of various orthopteran insects of the family Gryllidae, known for the stridulating noise produced by the males.

- The sound of a single cricket kept him awake all night in the cabin.
- Male crickets produce their characteristic chirping sound by rubbing their wings together to attract mates during the summer months.

### 2. the sport

noun · CEFR A2

a team game played with a bat, a ball, and wickets, popular in the UK and Commonwealth.

For teachers: an outdoor game played with bats, a ball, and wickets between two teams of eleven players; typically uncountable in this sense.

- We spent the whole afternoon watching a game of cricket at the local park.
- The national team's victory in the cricket world cup sparked celebrations across the country, highlighting the sport's enduring popularity.

### 3. fair behaviour

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

fair and honest behavior toward other people.

For teachers: fair, honourable, or sportsmanlike conduct; frequently used in the negative 'it's not cricket' to denote unfairness.

- Changing the rules at the last minute just isn't cricket.
- The CEO's decision to withhold bonuses while increasing his own salary was widely criticised as simply not being cricket.

### 4. aviation warning

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Slang

a loud, repeating alarm sound used in a plane's cockpit to warn pilots.

For teachers: a specific aural warning signal in an aircraft cockpit, designed with a repetitive chime to ensure immediate pilot recognition.

- The pilot reacted immediately when the cricket started sounding in the cockpit.
- During the emergency descent, the persistent chirping of the cricket alerted the crew to an airspeed deviation that required immediate correction.

### 5. silence or no response

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Humorous

a way to describe total silence, especially when you expect someone to speak.

For teachers: used metaphorically in the plural to describe a lack of response or total silence following a statement or question.

- I asked if anyone wanted to help me clean, but all I heard was crickets.
- The comedian's controversial joke was met with literal crickets from the audience, making the rest of the set incredibly awkward.

## Examples

- We spent the entire afternoon playing cricket in the park.
- The national team traveled to London to compete in the international cricket tournament this summer.
- While the technical nuances of cricket can be difficult for newcomers to grasp, the sport remains a central pillar of cultural identity across many Commonwealth nations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.