solitaire

[ sol-i-tair ]

noun

1. Also called patience. any of various games played by one person with one or more regular 52-card packs, part or all of which are usually dealt out according to a given pattern, the object being to arrange the cards in a predetermined manner.
2. a game played by one person alone, as a game played with marbles or pegs on a board having hollows or holes.
3. a precious stone, especially a diamond, set by itself, as in a ring.
4. any of several American thrushes of the genus Myadestes, having short, broad bills and noted for their beautiful songs.
5. a large extinct flightless bird of the genus Pezophaps, related to the dodo but with a longer neck, smaller bill, and longer legs, that inhabited the Mascarene Islands.

solitaire

/ ˌsɒlɪˈtɛə; ˈsɒlɪˌtɛə /

noun

1. Also calledpegboard a game played by one person, esp one involving moving and taking pegs in a pegboard or marbles on an indented circular board with the object of being left with only one
2. the US name for patience
3. a gem, esp a diamond, set alone in a ring
4. any of several extinct birds of the genus Pezophaps, related to the dodo
5. any of several dull grey North American songbirds of the genus Myadestes: subfamily Turdinae (thrushes)

Word History and Origins

Origin of solitaire¹

1350–1400; Middle English < French < Latin sōlitārius solitary

Word History and Origins

Origin of solitaire¹

C18: from Old French: solitary

Example Sentences

At another, Monet challenged an orc to solitaire instead of fighting it.

From Seattle Times

It was hoped that her solitaire diamond ring, which was listed for sale between £70,000 to £100,000, would boost the amount for charity, but it did not meet its reserve price.

From BBC

“We’re surprised that we could accidentally encounter this astonishing ability with language, by training a machine to play solitaire on all of the internet,” Gruber said.

From Seattle Times

However, the kinds of stones that go into the cheaper 1- or 2-carat solitaire bridal rings popular in the U.S. have experienced far sharper price drops than the rest of the market.

From Seattle Times

On March 17, Murdoch asked Smith to be his wife, presenting her with an Asscher-cut diamond solitaire.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bracelet
• brooch
• costume
• earring
• gem
• glass
• gold
• jewel
• knickknack
• necklace
• ornament
• pendant
• silver
• tiara
• treasure
• trinket