Dictionary

tic–tac–toe

noun \ˌtik-ˌtak-ˈtō\

: a game in which one player draws Xs and another player draws Os inside a set of nine squares and each player tries to be the first to fill a row of squares with either Xs or Os

Full Definition of TIC-TAC-TOE

:  a game in which two players alternately put Xs and Os in compartments of a figure formed by two vertical lines crossing two horizontal lines and each tries to get a row of three Xs or three Os before the opponent does

Variants of TIC-TAC-TOE

tic–tac–toe or tick–tack–toe \ˌtik-ˌtak-ˈtō\
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Origin of TIC-TAC-TOE

tic-tac-toe, former game in which players with eyes shut brought a pencil down on a slate marked with numbers and scored the number hit
First Known Use: circa 1866

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