Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

noughts-and-crosses

noun
/nɔːts ənd crosɪz/
Definition
A game played by two players who take turns marking spaces in a three by three grid, traditionally using ‘noughts’ (O) and ‘crosses’ (X).
Examples
  • After dinner, we played a few rounds of noughts-and-crosses.
  • The children enjoyed drawing a giant noughts-and-crosses board on the ground with chalk.
  • Noughts-and-crosses is a great way to pass the time during long car rides.
Meaning
Noughts-and-crosses is often referred to as tic-tac-toe in American English. The goal of the game is to place three of one’s own marks in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
Synonyms
  • tic-tac-toe
  • X’s and O’s
  • Noughts and crosses game