cubic

American  

[kyoo-bik] / ˈkyu 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

Hungary receives between five and eight billion cubic metres of Russian gas a year through the TurkStream pipeline, which both Hungary and Slovakia depend on for Russian gas.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

Nearly 15 million cubic meters of ice and debris collapse into the lake.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Observable demand destruction has cut about 1 billion cubic feet per day so far, with additional volumes displaced through fuel switching, still leaving a sizable gap.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Damage to Qatari export facilities, outages at major Australian LNG projects, and shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz amount to roughly 5 to 6 billion cubic feet per day of supply disruption.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

The platform was built of almost three million cubic yards of rock, much of it transported from mountain quarries fifty miles away.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• cuboid
• cuboidal