sides of a cube

Jctgf · Thu Jul 24, 2008 0:31 am *sides of a cube*

hi,
there are 6 sides on a cube.
how do you call each one of them?
left, right, front, back, top and bottom sides?
is it the same for any tridimensional object, like a TV or a telephone?
can I say "there is a compartment for the batteries on the bottom side of the laptop"?
thanks.

Haihao · Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:57 am *sides of a cube*

Shouldn't we apply "surface" to a cube?

Skrej · Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:00 am *sides of a cube*

Hello Jctfgf,

Yes, you can refer to the front or back of an object (t.v. for example), and the left/right side, and the top or bottom.

However, you can just use the directional, without adding the word 'side'. If you want to use the word 'side' that's okay also, but not always necessary.

For example,

The batteries go in the bottom (side) of the radio.

The adapter plugs into the back (side) of the computer.

There's a handle on the left and right (side) of the stereo.

Haihao, 'surface' is probably the right term to use if you're talking about a 3-d shape in geometry, yes, but outside of geometry, 'surface' is normally reserved for a larger flat area, such as the surface of the lake, the surface of a window, the table surface, anything that has the sense of being the 'top' or external layer.

Otherwise, when talking about a 3-d shape, we'll refer to the 'sides.' or simply the directionals.
_________________
Native speaker but not a perfect speaker.
But completely fluent in over six million forms of Teflese.

Haihao · Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:41 am *sides of a cube*

Crystalclear and fullyconvincing, SKrej. Smile

Thank you!

Jctgf · Thu Jul 24, 2008 18:28 pm *sides of a cube*

thanks a lot!
jc

Barb_D · Thu Jul 24, 2008 20:09 pm *sides of a cube*

Aren't they called "faces"?

Jctgf · Thu Jul 24, 2008 20:13 pm *sides of a cube*

hi,
is "face" what I would most likely listen from a native?
a native would never say "the side of the cube/dice"?
thanks.

Barb_D · Thu Jul 24, 2008 20:20 pm *sides of a cube*

You have already heard from a native speaker who confirms that in conversation we say "sides" all the time.

There are some board games that require an 8-sided die. (It doesn't sound very natural to say "A die with 8 faces.")

However, in geometry class (and geology, if you are studying crystals), the term "face" is used.

Barb_D · Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:30 am *sides of a cube*

Did you like the response better when you got almost the same answer from BobK about faces?

Jctgf · Fri Jul 25, 2008 23:09 pm *sides of a cube*

sorry, barb_d, are you talking to me?

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