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die²

(dī)

1. pl. dice(dīs)

a. A small cube marked on each side with from one to six dots, usually used in pairs in gambling and in various other games.

b. dice (used with a sing. verb) A game of chance using dice.

2. pl. dies A device used for cutting out, forming, or stamping material, especially:

a. An engraved metal piece used for impressing a design onto a softer metal, as in coining money.

b. One of several component pieces that are fitted into a diestock to cut threads on screws or bolts.

c. A part on a machine that punches shaped holes in, cuts, or forms sheet metal, cardboard, or other stock.

d. A metal block containing small conical holes through which plastic, metal, or other ductile material is extruded or drawn.

3. pl. dies Architecture The dado of a pedestal, especially when cube-shaped.

tr.v. died, die·ing, dies

To cut, form, or stamp with or as if with a die.

Idioms:

load the dice

1. To make an outcome highly probable; predetermine a result: “These factors merely load the dice, upping the odds that a household will fall into a certain ... income distribution” (Thomas G. Exter).

2. To put another at a distinct disadvantage, as through prior maneuver: The dice were loaded against the defendant before the trial.

no dice

1. Of no use; futile.

2. Used as a refusal to a request.

the die is cast

The decision has been made and is irrevocable.

[Middle English de, gaming die, from Old French, possibly from Latin datum, given (as by fortune in the roll of the dice), neuter of datus, past participle of dare, to give; see dō- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

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die²

dies used to coin the euro

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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