Meaning & use
cubic centimeter
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Meanings
nouncountablemathematics
A unit of volume equal to the space inside a cube measuring one centimeter on each side.
Grammar: Countable: ten cubic centimeters; the unit is the same as one milliliter.
Patterns
- a volume of five cubic centimeters
- X cubic centimeters of something
The syringe holds five cubic centimeters of liquid.
A sugar cube takes up roughly two cubic centimeters.
Add ten cubic centimeters of water to the beaker.
nouncountabletechnical
A measure of the size of an engine, based on the total volume of its cylinders.
Grammar: Usually plural with a number: a 125 cubic centimeter motorbike.
Patterns
- a 125 cubic centimeter engine
Beginners may ride a motorbike with an engine of up to 125 cubic centimeters.
The scooter has a 50 cubic centimeter engine.
Insurance is cheaper for engines with fewer cubic centimeters.
Word forms
| plural | cubic centimeters |
|---|
Common combinations
- measure in cubic centimeters
- The volume of the box is measured in cubic centimeters.
- one cubic centimeter
- One cubic centimeter of water weighs one gram.
- cubic centimeters per second
- The pump moves forty cubic centimeters per second.
- square and cubic centimeters
- Area is given in square centimeters, volume in cubic centimeters.
Synonyms and how they differ
- milliliter
- A milliliter is the same amount, but it is normally used for liquids, while cubic centimeter is used for solids and general volume.
- cc
- Cc is the common short form, used in medicine and for engines, and is less formal than writing it out.
- cm3
- Cm3 is the scientific symbol, mainly used in writing and calculations rather than in speech.
Word family
- cubic adjective
- relating to a cube or to volume units
- cube noun
- a solid shape with six equal square sides
- centimeter noun
- one hundredth of a meter
- centimeters noun
- the plural of centimeter
Commonly confused: cubic centimeter or square centimeter?
cubic centimeter vs square centimeter
A square centimeter measures area (flat surface), while a cubic centimeter measures volume (three-dimensional space).
Practice
To describe the amount of liquid a small syringe can hold, you would most sensibly use ______.
Choose one answer.
Liquid volume is measured in cubic centimeters. Square centimeters measure flat area, and centigrams measure mass.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cubic centimeter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.