# cube

/ˈkjub/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cube
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the shape

noun · CEFR A2

a solid object with six equal square sides.

For teachers: a regular hexahedron consisting of six identical square faces meeting at right angles.

- The child played with a wooden cube that had a different letter on each side.
- The architect designed the pavilion as a perfect glass cube, creating a striking geometric contrast with the organic shapes of the surrounding park.

### 2. math power

noun · CEFR B2

the result of multiplying a number by itself twice.

For teachers: the third power of a quantity, representing the volume of a cube with sides of that length.

- The cube of 3 is 27 because 3 times 3 times 3 equals 27.
- In the final step of the equation, the student had to calculate the cube of the variable to determine the total volume.

### 3. office cubicle

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a small workspace in an office with low walls.

For teachers: an informal term for a cubicle, specifically a partially enclosed workspace in an open-plan office.

- I spent the whole afternoon at my cube working on the budget report.
- The modern office layout replaced traditional private rooms with rows of identical cubes to encourage a more collaborative environment.

### 4. puzzle

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a puzzle like a Rubik's Cube where you twist the sides.

For teachers: a twisty puzzle, typically a 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube or its variants.

- He can solve the cube in less than thirty seconds.
- Competitive speedcubers often lubricate their cubes to reduce friction and achieve faster turning speeds during tournaments.

### 5. to cut into squares

verb · CEFR B1

to cut food into small, square pieces.

For teachers: to dice or cut a substance into small cubic shapes.

- First, cube the potatoes and boil them until they are soft.
- The recipe instructs the chef to cube the cold butter into uniform pieces before incorporating it into the flour mixture.

### 6. to multiply twice

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to multiply a number by itself two times.

For teachers: to raise a number or mathematical expression to the third power.

- If you cube five, you get one hundred and twenty-five.
- To find the volume of the container, you must cube the length of one of its internal edges.

### 7. measurement unit

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

used after a unit of measurement to show volume.

For teachers: a postpositional adjective used to denote a unit of volume formed by the third power of a linear measure.

- The engine has a capacity of 350 inches cube.
- The specifications listed the displacement as 500 centimeters cube, though 'cubic centimeters' is the more frequent phrasing in modern manuals.

Usage: Always follows the unit of measurement.

## Examples

- Add one ice cube to the glass.
- The recipe asks you to cut the cold butter into small cubes before mixing it with the flour.
- The architect designed the museum as a series of interlocking glass cubes, creating a geometric silhouette that contrasts sharply with the surrounding organic landscape.

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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.