- κύβος
- a cube
- 1. Lat. cubus, a cube: a cubical die, marked on all 6 sides (whereas the ἀστράγαλος was marked only on four sides), in pl., dice , [Refs 5th c.BC], etc.; the Greeks threw with three dice, so that τρὶς ἕξ, three sixes, was the highest throw, [6th/5th c.BC, 5th/4th c.BC]; κρίνειν τι ἐν κύβοις to decide it by the dice , by chance , [6th/5th c.BC]
2. also of the single pips on the dice , βέβληκ᾽ Ἀχιλλεὺς δύο κύβω καὶ τέσσαρα he has thrown two aces and a four, [6th/5th c.BC] ap. [5th/4th c.BC]
3. a cubic number , i. e. a number multiplied twice into itself, as 27 is the cube of 3, [5th/4th c.BC] (ML)