What does "cubit" mean?
The distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger used as an informal unit of length.
Cubit
/ˈkju.bɪt/ name, noun
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger used as an informal unit of length.
- Grammar: cubit is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: ancient unit, forearm length unit, kilometer, length unit.
- Useful contrasts: meter, modern length unit.
- Usage evidence: Thou shalt make a window in the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish the top of it: and the door of the ark thou shalt set in the side: with lower, middle chambers, and third stories shalt thou make it.
How to use "cubit"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cubit" 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
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- 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 "cubit" 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
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cubit" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "cubit" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cubit" is acting as name, 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 "ancient unit" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "cubit", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger used as an informal unit of length.
"Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?"
- 2 an ancient unit of length based on the length of the forearm wordnet
- 3 Any of various units of length approximating this distance, usually around 35–60 cm. historical
- 4 Synonym of ulna, the bone of the human forearm. archaic
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname transferred from the nickname.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
metermodern length unit
Example
"Thou shalt make a window in the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish the top of it: and the door of the ark thou shalt set in the side: with lower, middle chambers, and third stories shalt thou make it."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cubit"?
Common synonyms include: ancient unit, forearm length unit, kilometer, length unit, measure, measurement unit.
How do you use "cubit" in a sentence?
Thou shalt make a window in the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish the top of it: and the door of the ark thou shalt set in the side: with lower, middle chambers, and third stories shalt thou make it.
How do you pronounce "cubit"?
Pronounced /ˈkju.bɪt/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English cubite, from Latin cubitum (“elbow, cubit”). Doublet of cubitus, covado, and codo.
Etymology 2
From Middle English cubite (“cubit; elbow”), probably applied as a nickname for someone with strong or remarkable forearms.