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Glite Dictionary
cubic decimeter

cubic decimeter

3.7
A unit of volume equal to one liter
  • noun
  • /ˈkjuːbɪk ˈdɛsɪˌmiːtər/
  • US
translation icon : decímetro cúbico
  • A cubic decimeter is equal to one liter.

Examples

  • The bottle holds one cubic decimeter of water.

  • The tank has a capacity of 75 cubic decimeters, which is equivalent to 75 liters.

  • He filled the aquarium with exactly ten cubic decimeters of water.

  • Scientists measured the volume of the container and found it to be one cubic decimeter.

  • He filled the aquarium with exactly ten cubic decimeters of water.

  • Scientists measured the volume of the container and found it to be one cubic decimeter.

  • The bottle holds one cubic decimeter of water.

Synonyms

liter
vscubic decimeter
  • US
190 1.0

A measure for liquids equal to one thousand milliliters, used for milk and water

is the same volume unit named by its cube geometry rather than capacity
l
vscubic decimeter
  • Specialized
1 1.0

A measure of liquid equal to about one thousand millilitres

is written in full as the geometric volume name rather than an abbreviation

How Big

cubic meter
9 2.7
cubic decimeter
  • US
3.7
cubic centimeter
  • Specialized
4 3.1

Surface Forms

cubic decimeter singular
cubic decimeters plural

Morphology

cubic + decimeter

The meaning 'a volume equal to a decimeter cubed' is directly and compositionally derived from 'cubic' (relating to a cube/third power) + 'decimeter' (a unit of 10 cm). Forming 'cubic + unit' to indicate volume is a regular, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand this MWE.

Etymology

The noun cubic decimeter gives a simple picture: a cube with each side one decimeter long, and a decimeter is 'one tenth of a meter'. So the space inside that cube is exactly 'one liter', which is why the term means a unit of volume.