solitaire
solitaire Lexical Profile
solitaire Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A tabletop game, especially a card game, played by one person, typically with the objective of arranging a shuffled deck into specific numerical or suit-based sequences.
"She spent the quiet, rainy afternoon sitting by the window and playing a game of solitaire."
A single gemstone, particularly a diamond, that is set alone in a ring or other piece of jewelry.
"He opened the velvet box to reveal a stunning diamond solitaire that caught the evening light."
American Any of several New World thrushes of the genus Myadestes, recognized by their predominantly drab plumage and exceptionally melodious, flutelike songs.
"The ethereal, echoing song of the Townsend's solitaire resonated through the high elevation pine forest."
Word Nuance & Usage
In North American English, 'solitaire' typically refers to the single-player card game, whereas in British English, this game is usually called 'patience' and 'solitaire' more commonly refers to a board game played with pegs or marbles.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from French 'solitaire', from Latin 'solitarius' (lonely, solitary), which ultimately derives from 'solus' meaning 'alone'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.