cubic

American  

[kyoo-bik] / ˈkju bɪk /

adjective

1. having three dimensions; solid.

2. having the form of a cube; cubical.

3. pertaining to the measurement of volume.

   the cubic contents of a vessel.

4. pertaining to a unit of linear measure that is multiplied by itself twice to form a unit of measure for volume.

   cubic foot; cubic centimeter; cubic inch; cubic meter.

5. Mathematics. of or relating to the third degree.

6. Crystallography. belonging or pertaining to the isometric system of crystallization.

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noun

1. Mathematics. a cubic polynomial or equation.

cubic British  

/ ˈkjuːbɪk /

adjective

1. having the shape of a cube

2. 1. having three dimensions

   2. Abbreviation: cu..   c.  denoting or relating to a linear measure that is raised to the third power

      a cubic metre

3. maths of, relating to, or containing a variable to the third power or a term in which the sum of the exponents of the variables is three

4. Also: isometric.   regular.  crystallog relating to or belonging to the crystal system characterized by three equal perpendicular axes. The unit cell of cubic crystals is a cube with a lattice point at each corner ( simple cubic ) and one in the cube's centre ( body-centred cubic ), or a lattice point at each corner and one at the centre of each face ( face-centred cubic )

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noun

1. maths

   1. a cubic equation, such as x ³ + x + 2 = 0

   2. a cubic term or expression

cubic Scientific  

/ kyo̅o̅′bĭk /

1. Referring to a volume unit of measurement.

2. Involving a number or a variable that has been raised to the third power.

3. Relating to a crystal having three axes of equal length intersecting at right angles. The mineral pyrite has cubic crystals.

4. Also called isometric

5. See illustration at crystal

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Other Word Forms

• cubicity
  noun
• subcubic
  adjective
• uncubic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of cubic

1490–1500; earlier cubik < Latin cubicus < Greek kybikós. See cube ¹, -ic

Example Sentences

Lower-level employees might get cubic zirconia instead of diamonds.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

These are almost certainly cutter suction dredgers, of which China has the world's largest fleet: some of them can scoop up 6,000 cubic metres an hour, enough to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

That differs from the existing Power of Siberia pipeline, launched in 2019, which has the capacity to move around 38 billion cubic metres of gas annually from eastern Siberia to northeastern China.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Researchers also collected air samples in Cabauw, a small rural village in the Netherlands, where concentrations reached 2 nanograms per cubic meter.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2026

The earliest men and women, 2.5 million years ago, had brains of about 36 cubic inches.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

Related Words

• cuboid
• cuboidal