dice

Dice, in Greek religion and mythology

Dice: see Horae.

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dice, in games and gambling

dice [plural of die], small cubes used in games. They are usually made of ivory, bone, wood, plastic, or similar materials. The six sides are numbered by dots from 1 to 6, so placed that the sum of the dots on opposite sides equals 7. Dice much like those used today were found in ancient Egyptian tombs and in the ruins of Babylon. The playing of dice was popular in Greece and even more so in Rome, and dice were used throughout the Middle Ages. In the simplest form of play with dice each player throws, or shoots, for the highest sum. The most popular dice game in the United States is called craps. It is played with two dice; the underlying principle of the game is the fact that the most probable throw is a 7. On the first throw, if a player shoots 7 or 11 (called a natural) he wins and throws again, but if he shoots 2, 3, or 12 (called craps) he loses. If he shoots 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 that number becomes his point, and he continues to shoot until he makes his point, in which case he wins and retains the dice, or until he shoots a 7, in which case he loses and relinquishes the dice to the next player. Bets may be placed against the thrower or, in side bets, in favor of him. In gambling halls all bets are made with the house either for or against. There are numerous other dice games.

Bibliography

See studies by J. Scarne and C. Rawson (rev. ed. 1962) and H. A. Heritage (1969).

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dice

Set of small cubes (each called a die) marked on each face with from one to six spots and used in gambling and in various social games by being shaken and thrown down to come to rest at random on a flat surface. The combined number of the spots on the topmost surface of the tossed dice decides, according to the rules of the game being played, whether the thrower (or “shooter”) wins, loses, or continues to throw. In numerous board games the thrown dice determine the player's moves. Dice, which may be traced back to prehistory, were in many cultures magical devices used for the casting of lots to divine the future. In the modern era they became associated with the playing of games of chance, including craps.

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dice

The plural of die. See die.

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dice [dīs]

(design engineering)

die

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DICE

(electronics)

digital intercontinental conversion equipment

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dice

cast by Roman guards for Christ’s robe. [N.T.: Matthew 27:35]

See : Passion of Christ