cube

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈkyüb 

1

a

: the regular solid of six equal square sides see Volume Formulas Table

b

: something shaped like a cube

an ice cube

c

: cubicle sense 2

an office cube

2

: the product of a number multiplied by itself twice

cube

2 of 5

adjective

: raised to the third power

cube

3 of 5

verb

cubed; cubing

transitive verb

1

: to raise to the third power

2

: to form into a cube

3

: to cut partly through (a steak) in a checkered pattern to increase tenderness by breaking the fibers

cuber noun

cube

4 of 5

noun (2)

cu·​be ˈkyü-ˌbā  kyü-ˈbā 

variants or cubé

: either of two tropical American plants (Deguelia utilis synonym Lonchocarpus utilis or L. urucu) furnishing rotenone

cuber

5 of 5

noun (3)

cub·​er

ˈkyü-bər

plural -s

: one that cubes

especially : a device or machine that cuts food into cubes or scores slices of meat to break the tough fibers

Synonyms of cube

Noun (1)

• chamber
• cell
• cabin
• bay
• compartment

Examples of cube in a Sentence

Noun (1)

even though they worked in adjoining cubes, the two coworkers rarely acknowledged one another's existence

Verb

Cube the carrots and potatoes.

three slices of bread, cubed

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The alcohol in a drink won’t kill anything frozen into the cubes, so ask for beverages served without ice. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2026

Her diet consisted primarily of mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and finely diced chicken cubes. — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 24 June 2026

Adjective

While cube storage has come a long way, with many different grids and arrangements of the cubes available, the truly genius way to take these shelving units from good to incredible is to make use of organizers that fit into each cube. — Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 July 2024

Then there’s the buttery dough reimagined into cube shapes, instead of crescents, with creamy centers. — Ann Trieger Kurland, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Apr. 2023

Verb

Since cooking will soften an underripe avocado, cube it and add it to a stir-fry. — Aly Walansky, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026

Scatter cheese over the vegetables and the bread cubes over the cheese. — Mary Ann Esposito, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Latin cubus, from Greek kybos die, cube

Noun (2)

American Spanish cubé

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1551, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1924, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cube

• bouillon cube
• cube farm
• cube root
• cube steak
• stock cube
• sugar cube

Rhymes for cube

• boob
• lube
• rube
• tube
• hypercube
• nanotube
• phototube

Kids Definition

cube

1 of 2 noun

ˈkyüb 

1

: the solid body having six equal square sides

2

: the result of raising a number to the third power

the cube of 2 is 8

cube

2 of 2 verb

cubed; cubing

1

: to raise to the third power

2

: to form into a cube

3

: to cut a checkered pattern into

cube a steak