six

[siks]

noun

1. a cardinal number, five plus one.

2. a symbol for this number, as 6 or VI.

3. a set of this many persons or things.

4. a playing card, die face, or half of a domino face with six pips.

5. Cricket.,  a hit in which the ball crosses the boundary line of the field without a bounce, counting six runs for the batsman.

6. an automobile powered by a six-cylinder engine.

7. a six-cylinder engine.

8. Slang.

   1. the area directly behind a person; back.

      Check your six—there's a hottie approaching.

   2. the area directly behind a person in motion; tail.

      The pilot had an enemy plane on his six.

adjective

1. amounting to six in number.

six

¹

/ sɪks /

noun

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one See also number

2. a numeral, 6, VI, etc, representing this number

3. something representing, represented by, or consisting of six units, such as a playing card with six symbols on it

4. Also called: six o'clock. six hours after noon or midnight

5. Also called: sixer. cricket

   1. a stroke in which the ball crosses the boundary without bouncing

   2. the six runs scored for such a stroke

6. a division of a Brownie Guide or Cub Scout pack

7. 1. in disagreement

   2. in a state of confusion

8. informal,  to upset or overwhelm someone completely; stun

9. a situation in which the alternatives are considered equivalent

determiner

1. 1. amounting to six

      six nations

   2. ( as pronoun )

      set the table for six

Six

²

/ sis /

noun

1. a group of six young composers in France, who from about 1916 formed a temporary association as a result of interest in neoclassicism and in the music of Satie and the poetry of Cocteau. Its members were Darius Milhaud, Arthur Honegger, Francis Poulenc, Georges Auric, Louis Durey, and Germaine Tailleferre

Word History and Origins

Origin of six¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English six, sex, Old English siex, syx, seox, sex; cognate with Dutch zes, Low German ses, German sechs, Old Norse sex, Gothic saihs, Latin sex, Greek héx Sanskrit ṣaṭ-

Word History and Origins

Origin of six¹

Old English siex; related to Old Norse sex, Gothic saihs, Old High German sehs, Latin sex, Greek hex, Sanskrit sastha

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get / have someone’s six, back.

2. at sixes and sevens,

   1. in disorder or confusion.

   2. in disagreement or dispute.

3. watch one’s six, back.

More idioms and phrases containing six

• Joe six-pack
• at sixes and sevens
• deep six

Example Sentences

In what is more of a sprint than a marathon - six games all told - they've already put Denmark on the back foot.

From BBC

Come Monday, if Greece continue their excellent form, Denmark's campaign might be in considerable trouble with one point from a possible six.

From BBC

If they go into it with four points from six they'll be feeling good about themselves.

From BBC

It's difficult to keep track of the number of times Clarke has been written off as Scotland head coach, so let's just say that we've been in the movie once or twice since his appointment more than six years ago.

From BBC

Higuita would only play six more times for Colombia before retiring from international duty in 1999, or perhaps his country was naturally moving on.

From BBC