cubic
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.used with units of length to measure the volume of a three-dimensional space.
adj.denoting a unit of volume equal to the volume of a cube whose side is one unit of length.
Simple“The small swimming pool holds about thirty cubic metres of water.”
In context“The shipping container has a total capacity of sixty-seven cubic metres, though practical loading constraints often reduce the usable volume.”
UsageAlways placed before the unit of measurement.
- 02 C1 Advanced
adj.relating to a mathematical equation where the highest power is three.
adj.relating to a polynomial or equation of the third degree, involving a variable raised to the power of three.
Simple“The students learned how to solve a cubic equation in their advanced math class.”
In context“The researcher utilised a cubic function to model the non-linear growth observed in the early stages of the chemical reaction.”
UsageTypically modifies nouns like 'equation', 'function', or 'polynomial'.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
adj.having the shape of a cube or having three equal sides at right angles.
adj.having three equal axes at right angles to each other, especially in crystallography.
Simple“Salt crystals often have a simple cubic structure that you can see under a microscope.”
In context“The mineral specimen was identified by its distinct cubic cleavage, a characteristic common to galena and halite crystals.”
Synonymscube shaped - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a line on a graph that represents a cubic equation.
n.a curve or function of the third degree.
Simple“The graph of the cubic showed a clear curve passing through the center.”
In context“When plotted on a Cartesian plane, the cubic exhibits a characteristic S-shape with at most two turning points.”
“Of that total, 153,918 cubic metres were used for commercial operations at Olkaria.”
“It can now cost three times that – much costlier than, for example, red oak at about US$1,500 per cubic meter ($43 per cubic foot).”
From Middle French cubique, equivalent to cube + -ic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.