X, x

[eks] /ɛks/
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

[eks] /ɛks/
verb (used with object), x-ed or x'd
[ekst] /ɛkst/ (Show IPA), x-ing or x'ing
[ek-sing] /ˈɛk sɪŋ/ (Show IPA)
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.
Origin
1840-50

X

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

X

Symbol.
1.
the 24th in order or in a series, or, when I is omitted, the 23rd.
2.
(sometimes lowercase) the Roman numeral for 10.
Compare Roman numerals.
3.
Christ.
4.
Christian.
5.
cross.
6.
Electricity, reactance.
7.
Slang. a ten-dollar bill.
8.
(in the U.S.) a rating of the Motion Picture Association of America for movies with subject matter that is suitable for adults only: persons who are under age (usually 17) will not be admitted.
See R (def 5).
9.
(in Great Britain) a designation for a film recommended for adults only.
Compare A (def 11), AA (def 5), U (def 5).
10.
a person, thing, agency, factor, etc., of unknown identity.
11.
Chemistry. (formerly) xenon.

x

1.
ex1 (def 1).
2.
excess.
3.
Stock Exchange.
  1. (of stock trading) ex dividend.
  2. (of bond trading) ex interest.
4.
experimental.
5.
extra.

x

Symbol.
1.
an unknown quantity or a variable.
2.
(used at the end of letters, telegrams, etc., to indicate a kiss.)
3.
(used to indicate multiplication) times:
8 × 8=64.
4.
(used between figures indicating dimensions) by: 3″ × 4″ (read: “three by four inches”);
3″ × 4″ × 5″ (read: “three by four by five inches”).
5.
power of magnification:
a 50x telescope.
6.
(used as a signature by an illiterate person.)
7.
cross.
8.
crossed with.
9.
(used to indicate a particular place or point on a map or diagram.)
10.
out of; foaled by:
a colt by Flag-a-way x Merrylegs.
11.
(used to indicate choice, as on a ballot, examination, etc.)
12.
(used to indicate an error or incorrect answer, as on a test.)
13.
Mathematics. (in Cartesian coordinates) the x-axis.
14.
Chess. captures.
15.
a person, thing, agency, factor, etc., of unknown identity.

chi1

[kahy] /kaɪ/
noun, plural chis.
1.
the twenty-second letter of the Greek alphabet (X, χ).
2.
the consonant sound represented by this letter.
Origin
< Greek
Examples from the web for x
  • This is because ss was written with a ligature closely resembling the x.
  • He has covered several songs of hers, including the controversial rated x.
British Dictionary definitions for x

x

/ɛks/
noun (pl) x's, X's, Xs
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

x

symbol
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

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

chi1

/kaɪ/
noun
1.
the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet (Χ, χ), a consonant, transliterated as ch or rarely kh

chi2

/tʃiː/
noun
1.
(sometimes capital) (in Oriental medicine, martial arts, etc) vital energy believed to circulate round the body in currents
Word Origin
Chinese, literally: energy
Word Origin and History for x

X

most English words beginning in -x- are of Greek origin or modern commercial coinages. East Anglian in 14c. showed a tendency to use -x- for initial sh-, sch- (cf. xal for shall), which didn't catch on but seems an improvement over the current system. As a symbol of a kiss on a letter, etc., it is recorded from 1765. In malt liquor, XX denoted "double quality" and XXX "strongest quality" (1827).

Algebraic meaning "unknown quantity" (1660 in English), sometimes said to be from medieval use, originally a crossed -r-, probably from Latin radix (see root (n.)). Other theories trace it to Arabic, but a more prosaic explanation says Descartes (1637) took x, y, z, the last three letters of the alphabet, for unknowns to correspond to a, b, c, used for known quantities.

Used allusively for "unknown person" from 1797, "something unknown" since 1859. As a type of chromosome, attested from 1902 (first so called in German; Henking, 1891). First used 1950 in Britain to designate "films deemed suitable for adults only;" adopted in U.S. Nov. 1, 1968.

chi

n.

22nd letter of the Greek alphabet, representing a -kh- sound (see ch). The letter is shaped like an X, and so the Greek letter name was used figuratively to signify such a shape or arrangement (e.g. khiasma "two things placed crosswise;" khiastos "arranged diagonally; marked with an X;" khiazein "to mark with an 'X', to write the letter 'X'"). Some dialects used chi to represent the -ks- sound properly belonging to xi; Latin picked this up and the sound value of chi in Latin-derived alphabets is now that of English X.

x in Medicine

chi or khi (kī)
n.

Symbol χ The 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet.

Slang definitions & phrases for x

ecstasy

noun

A variety of amphetamine narcotic: Ecstasy, by emergency order of the Drug Enforcement Administration, illegal (1980s+ Narcotics)


ex

noun

A former wife or husband, girlfriend or boyfriend, etc: He introduced his ex rather casually, considering they were together 27 years (1929+)


X 1

noun

A person's signature: Just put your X on this and we're in business

[fr the custom of an illiterate person to make an X in place of a written signature]


X 2

noun

Ecstasy, a variety of amphetamine narcotic (1990s+ Narcotics)

verb

To use the narcotic ecstasy: Many of us have had the experience of being around someone who is X-ing


Chi

noun

Chicago: love visiting Chitown

Related Terms

chi


x in Technology


1. Used in various speech and writing contexts (also in lowercase) in roughly its algebraic sense of "unknown within a set defined by context" (compare N). Thus, the abbreviation 680x0 stands for 68000, 68010, 68020, 68030 or 68040, and 80x86 stands for Intel 80186, Intel 80286, Intel 80386 or Intel 80486. A Unix hacker might write these as 680[0-4]0 and 80[1-4]86 or 680?0 and 80?86 respectively; see glob.
2. An alternative name for the X Window System.
3. A suffix for the speed of a CD-ROM drive relative to standard music CDs (1x). 32x is common in September 1999.
[Jargon File]
(1999-09-15)

Related Abbreviations for x

x

  1. abscissa
  2. by
  3. times (that is, multiplication)

X

  1. adult audiences only
  2. Christ
  3. Christian
  4. experimental
  5. extra
  6. reactance
  7. 10

Chi

Chicago

CHI

  1. Chicago Bears
  2. Consumer Health Information
Encyclopedia Article for x

X

American band whose tales of urban decay, corruption, and sleaze, delivered with skilled musicianship and unique vocal harmonies, marked them as important contributors to the punk movement. The original members were Exene Cervenka (original name Christine Cervenka; b. Feb. 1, 1956, Chicago, Ill., U.S., ), John Doe (b. Feb. 25, 1953, Decatur, Ill., ), Billy Zoom (original name Ty Kindell; b. Feb. 20, 1948, Illinois, ), and D.J. Bonebrake (b. Dec. 8, 1955, North Hollywood, Calif., ). Later members included Dave Alvin (b. Nov. 11, 1955, Los Angeles, Calif., ) and Tony Gilkyson.

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