What does "cribbage" mean?
A point-counting card game for two players, with variants for three or four players; the cribbage board used for scoring to 61 or 121 points in numerous small increments is characteristic.
Cribbage
/ˈkɹɪbɪd͡ʒ/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A point-counting card game for two players, with variants for three or four players; the cribbage board used for scoring to 61 or 121 points in numerous small increments is characteristic.
- Grammar: cribbage is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: crib, blackjack, bridge, card game.
- Usage evidence: His solicitude for Sir Horace, his brother-in-law, was extreme, and he passed hours in the sick youth’s chamber, playing at cribbage, or dominos, or indulging the young baronet’s remarkable turn for cutting out trees, animals, or birds with tiny scissors on delicate paper.
How to use "cribbage"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cribbage" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "cribbage" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cribbage" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "crib" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A point-counting card game for two players, with variants for three or four players; the cribbage board used for scoring to 61 or 121 points in numerous small increments is characteristic. countable, uncountable
"His solicitude for Sir Horace, his brother-in-law, was extreme, and he passed hours in the sick youth’s chamber, playing at cribbage, or dominos, or indulging the young baronet’s remarkable turn for cutting out trees, animals, or birds with tiny scissors on delicate paper."
- 2 a card game (usually for two players) in which each player is dealt six cards and discards one or two wordnet
- 3 A variety of pocket billiards that, like the card game, awards points for pairs that total 15. A player who pockets a ball of a particular number must then immediately pocket the companion ball that brings the number to 15. countable, uncountable
- 4 A point scored in this variety of pocket billiards. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"His solicitude for Sir Horace, his brother-in-law, was extreme, and he passed hours in the sick youth’s chamber, playing at cribbage, or dominos, or indulging the young baronet’s remarkable turn for cutting out trees, animals, or birds with tiny scissors on delicate paper."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cribbage"?
Common synonyms include: crib, blackjack, bridge, card game, game, table game.
How do you use "cribbage" in a sentence?
His solicitude for Sir Horace, his brother-in-law, was extreme, and he passed hours in the sick youth’s chamber, playing at cribbage, or dominos, or indulging the young baronet’s remarkable turn for cutting out trees, animals, or birds with tiny scissors on delicate paper.
How do you pronounce "cribbage"?
Pronounced /ˈkɹɪbɪd͡ʒ/.
Etymology
From crib + -age. Named from the "crib" consisting of certain cards laid aside by each player.