x

¹ American  

[eks] / ɛks /

verb (used with object)

x-ed, x'd, x-ing, x'ing

1. to cross out or mark with or as if with an x (often followed byout ).

   to x out an error.

2. to indicate choice, as on a ballot or examination (often followed byin ).

   to x in the candidate of your choice.

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X ² American  

[eks] / ɛks /

Or x

noun

plural

X's, Xs, x's, xs

1. the 24th letter of the English alphabet, a consonant.

2. any spoken sound or combination of sounds represented by the letter X or x, as in xylene, box, or exact.

3. something having the shape of an X .

4. a written or printed representation of the letter X or x.

5. a device, as a printer's type, for reproducing the letter X or x.

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x ³ American  

abbreviation

1. ex.

2. excess.

3. Stock Exchange.

   1. (of stock trading) ex dividend.

   2. (of bond trading) ex interest.

4. experimental.

5. extra.

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X ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. experimental.

2. extra.

3. extraordinary.

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x ⁵ American  

Symbol.

1. an unknown quantity or a variable.

2. 1. the letter x used to replace or obscure a gender morpheme, as to avoid the -o or -a inflection of a word borrowed from Spanish or the sequence m-e-n in the word women . See Latinx, womxn.

   2. the letter x indicating a variable and used to hold a place in a word or abbreviation that can be occupied by another letter, as in CxO to account for a range of specialized executive positions in a corporation, for example CEO , CFO , and COO .

3. (used at the end of letters, telegrams, etc., to indicate a kiss.)

4. (used to indicate multiplication) times.

   8 × 8=64.

5. (used between figures indicating dimensions) by.

   3″ × 4″ (read: “three by four inches”);

   3″ × 4″ × 5″ (read: “three by four by five inches”).

6. power of magnification.

   a 50x telescope.

7. (used as a signature by an illiterate person.)

8. cross.

9. crossed with.

10. (used to indicate a particular place or point on a map or diagram).

    X marks the spot where the pirates' treasure is buried.

11. out of; foaled by.

    a colt by Flag-a-way x Merrylegs.

12. (used to indicate choice, as on a ballot, examination, etc.)

13. (used to indicate an error or incorrect answer, as on a test.)

14. Mathematics. (in Cartesian coordinates) the x-axis.

15. Chess. captures.

16. a person, thing, agency, factor, etc., of unknown identity.

    I feel sorry for poor Mr. X, the man she will ultimately marry.

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X ⁶ American  

Symbol.

1. the 24th in order or in a series.

2. (sometimes lowercase) the Roman numeral for 10.

3. Christ.

4. Christian.

5. cross.

6. Electricity. reactance.

7. Slang. a ten-dollar bill.

8. (no longer in official use by the Motion Picture Association of America) a rating for movies with subject matter that is suitable for adults only.

9. (in Great Britain) a designation for a film recommended for adults only.

10. a person, thing, agency, factor, etc., of unknown identity.

11. Chemistry. (formerly) xenon.

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X ¹ British  

symbol

1. 1. indicating a film that may not be publicly shown to anyone under 18. Since 1982 replaced by symbol 18

   2. ( as modifier )

      an X film

2. denoting any unknown, unspecified, or variable factor, number, person, or thing

3. (on letters, cards, etc) denoting a kiss

4. (on ballot papers, etc) indicating choice

5. (on examination papers, etc) indicating error

6. for Christ; Christian

7. ten See Roman numerals

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x ² British  

symbol

1. commerce banking finance ex

2. maths the x- axis or a coordinate measured along the x- axis in a Cartesian coordinate system

3. an algebraic variable

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x ³ British  

/ ɛks /

noun

1. the 24th letter and 19th consonant of the modern English alphabet

2. a speech sound sequence represented by this letter, in English pronounced as ks or gz or, in initial position, z, as in xylophone

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Etymology

Origin of x

First recorded in 1840–50

Related Words

• blunder
• failure
• fault
• flaw
• glitch
• inaccuracy
• lapse
• miscalculation
• miscue
• misdeed
• mismanagement
• misstep
• misunderstanding
• offense
• omission
• sin
• transgression
• wrongdoing