x

[ eks ]

/ ɛks /

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See synonyms for x on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), x-ed or x'd

[ekst], /ɛkst/, x-ing or x'ing

[ek-sing]. /ˈɛk sɪŋ/.

to cross out or mark with or as if with an x (often followed by out): to x out an error.

to indicate choice, as on a ballot or examination (often followed by in): to x in the candidate of your choice.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of x

First recorded in 1840–50

Words nearby x

Wyszyński, wyte, Wythe, wyvern, WYWH, x, Xanadu, Xanax, xanth-, xanthan, xanthan gum

Other definitions for x (2 of 6)

x²

abbreviation

ex¹ (def. 1).

excess.

Stock Exchange.

(of stock trading) ex dividend.
(of bond trading) ex interest.

experimental.

extra.

Other definitions for x (3 of 6)

x³

Symbol.

an unknown quantity or a variable.

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.
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.

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

(used to indicate multiplication) times: 8 × 8=64.

(used between figures indicating dimensions) by: 3″ × 4″ (read: “three by four inches”);3″ × 4″ × 5″ (read: “three by four by five inches”).

power of magnification: a 50x telescope.

(used as a signature by an illiterate person.)

cross.

crossed with.

(used to indicate a particular place or point on a map or diagram): X marks the spot where the pirates' treasure is buried.

out of; foaled by: a colt by Flag-a-way x Merrylegs.

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

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

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

Chess. captures.

a person, thing, agency, factor, etc., of unknown identity: I feel sorry for poor Mr. X, the man she will ultimately marry.

Other definitions for x (4 of 6)

X¹

or x

[ eks ]

/ ɛks /

noun, plural X's or Xs, x's or xs.

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

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

something having the shape of an X.

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

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

Other definitions for x (5 of 6)

X²

abbreviation

experimental.

extra.

extraordinary.

Other definitions for x (6 of 6)

X³

Symbol.

the 24th in order or in a series.

(sometimes lowercase) the Roman numeral for 10.Compare Roman numerals.

Christ.

Christian.

cross.

Electricity. reactance (def. 1).

Slang. a ten-dollar bill.

(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.

(in Great Britain) a designation for a film recommended for adults only.Compare A³ (def. 10), AA² (def. 5), U⁵ (def. 6).

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

Chemistry. (formerly) xenon.

How to use x in a sentence

The post Why Generation X Has Lost Hope appeared first on OZY.
Why Generation X Has Lost Hope|Joshua Eferighe|August 26, 2020|Ozy
To compute the sum of x and y, you combined groups of x and y nematodes and left them for 24 hours.
Are You Hip Enough To Be Square?|Zach Wissner-Gross|August 14, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The dots huddle on an x-axis showing how many votes a candidate wins the Electoral College by in each scenario.
How We Designed The Look Of Our 2020 Forecast|Anna Wiederkehr (anna.wiederkehr@abc.com)|August 13, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
To use the aforementioned example, Site X would never have to actually appear on a person’s screen for that person’s browser to be redirected to the site before moving on to the site they meant to visit.
WTF is redirect tracking?|Tim Peterson|August 10, 2020|Digiday

To compute the sum of x and y, you combine groups of x and y nematodes and leave them for 24 hours.
Can You Reach The Beach?|Zach Wissner-Gross|August 7, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
An x-ray two hours later confirms my hunch: my tibia (the big bone behind the shin) is snapped clean in two.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Getting out of X band is on option,” said one senior Air Force official.
Pentagon Worries That Russia Can Now Outshoot U.S. Stealth Jets|Dave Majumdar|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I made experimental commercials in the experimental division of a production house, Film X, that made commercials for ad agencies.
The Renegade: Robert Downey Sr. on His Classic Films, Son’s Battle with Drugs, and Bill Cosby|Marlow Stern|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In fact, both brothers have acting IMDb credits: Drew on Smallville and Jonathan on The X-Files.
How the Property Brothers Became Your Mom’s Favorite TV Stars|Kevin Fallon|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A bunch of old, white, rock titans come together with young, white, X Factor hotties to persuade Britain to heal Africa.
Do They Know It’s Time to Stop Band Aid?|Tom Sykes|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He thought they were now in touch with our troops at "X" but that they had been through some hard fighting to get there.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
W was a Watchman, and guarded the door; X was expensive, and so became poor.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various
Idly his pen traced upon the paper in front of him a large X, the sign of the unknown quantity.
Uncanny Tales|Various
The Professor took his pen and wrote a large X upon the sheet of paper in front of him.
Uncanny Tales|Various
Messrs. X and Z had specially engaged two eminent organists to play for them.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller

British Dictionary definitions for x (1 of 3)

X

/ (ɛks) /

noun plural x's, X's or Xs

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

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

British Dictionary definitions for x (2 of 3)

symbol for

commerce banking finance ex

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

an algebraic variable

British Dictionary definitions for x (3 of 3)

symbol for

(formerly, in Britain)

indicating a film that may not be publicly shown to anyone under 18. Since 1982 replaced by symbol 18
(as modifier)an X film

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

(on letters, cards, etc) denoting a kiss

(on ballot papers, etc) indicating choice

(on examination papers, etc) indicating error

for Christ; Christian

(Roman numeral) tenSee Roman numerals

Word Origin for X

(sense 6) from the form of the Greek letter khi (Χ), first letter of Khristos Christ

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012