tetris
tetris Lexical Profile
tetris Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A classic tile-matching puzzle video game in which players rotate and arrange falling geometric shapes made of four squares (tetrominoes) to form and clear complete horizontal lines without gaps.
"She spent the entire flight playing Tetris on her handheld console to pass the time."
In the game of Tetris, a high-scoring move achieved by clearing four horizontal lines simultaneously using a single straight four-block piece.
"He waited patiently for the long vertical piece so he could score a tetris and take the lead."
• verb
To pack, arrange, or fit multiple irregularly shaped objects tightly together into a limited space, as if playing the puzzle game (informal).
"We had to tetris all of our camping gear and suitcases into the back of the small hatchback."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in 1985 by Soviet software engineer Alexey Pajitnov as a blend of the Greek numerical prefix tetra- ('four', referring to the four-square tetromino pieces) and 'tennis', his favorite sport.