x

¹

[ eks ]

verb (used with object)

xed or xd [ekst],xing or xing [ek, -sing].

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

   to x out an error.

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

   to x in the candidate of your choice.

X

²

or x

[ eks ]

noun

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

x

³

abbreviation for

1. ex ¹( def 1 ).
2. excess.
3. Stock Exchange.
   1. (of stock trading) ex dividend.
   2. (of bond trading) ex interest.
4. experimental.
5. extra.

X

⁴

abbreviation for

1. experimental.
2. extra.
3. extraordinary.

x

⁵

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.

X

⁶

Symbol.

1. the 24th in order or in a series.
2. (sometimes lowercase) the Roman numeral for 10. Compare Roman numerals.
3. Christ.
4. Christian.
5. cross.
6. Electricity. reactance ( def 1 ).
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. Compare A ³( def 10 ), AA ²( def 5 ), U ⁵( def 6 ).
10. a person, thing, agency, factor, etc., of unknown identity.
11. Chemistry. (formerly) xenon.

X

¹

symbol for

1. formerly, in Britain
   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. Roman numeral ten See Roman numerals

x

²

symbol for

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

x

³

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of x¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Word History and Origins

Origin of x¹

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

Example Sentences

The post Why Generation X Has Lost Hope appeared first on OZY.

From Ozy

To compute the sum of x and y, you combined groups of x and y nematodes and left them for 24 hours.

From FiveThirtyEight

The dots huddle on an x-axis showing how many votes a candidate wins the Electoral College by in each scenario.

From 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.

From Digiday

To compute the sum of x and y, you combine groups of x and y nematodes and leave them for 24 hours.

From FiveThirtyEight

An x-ray two hours later confirms my hunch: my tibia (the big bone behind the shin) is snapped clean in two.

From The Daily Beast

“Getting out of X band is on option,” said one senior Air Force official.

From The Daily Beast

I made experimental commercials in the experimental division of a production house, Film X, that made commercials for ad agencies.

From The Daily Beast

In fact, both brothers have acting IMDb credits: Drew on Smallville and Jonathan on The X-Files.

From The Daily Beast

A bunch of old, white, rock titans come together with young, white, X Factor hotties to persuade Britain to heal Africa.

From The 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.

From Project Gutenberg

W was a Watchman, and guarded the door; X was expensive, and so became poor.

From Project Gutenberg

Idly his pen traced upon the paper in front of him a large X, the sign of the unknown quantity.

From Project Gutenberg

The Professor took his pen and wrote a large X upon the sheet of paper in front of him.

From Project Gutenberg

Messrs. X and Z had specially engaged two eminent organists to play for them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• impress
• seal