dice

 
Pronunciation: /dʌɪs/

noun (plural )

  • 1a small cube with each side having a different number of spots on it, ranging from one to six, thrown and used in gambling and other games involving chance. See also die2
  • [mass noun] a game played with dice.
  • 2small cubes of food: cut the meat into dice

verb

  • 1 [no object] (often as noun dicing) play or gamble with dice.
  • (dice with) take risks with; run the risk of: his side continue to dice with disaster you are dicing with an unknown problem
  • 2 [with object] cut (food or other matter) into small cubes: dice the peppers (as adjective diced) diced onions
  • 3 [with object] Australian informal, dated reject or abandon: he’d better behave, or I’ll dice him
    [ 1940s: extended use of dice 'gamble away']

Phrases

dice with death

take serious risks.

no dice

informal, chiefly North American used to refuse a request or indicate that there is no chance of success.

roll (or throw) of the dice

a risky attempt to do or achieve something: the merger was their last roll of the dice, and it failed miserably

Derivatives

dicer

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French des, plural of de (see die2)

Historically, dice is the plural of die, but in modern standard English dice is both the singular and the plural: throw the dice could mean a reference to either one or more than one dice.