Puzzles Word Games Terms

This puzzles word games terms-dictionary will educate you about the lingo for these two popular types of skill games. The dictionary is divided into 2 parts with puzzles first followed by word games.
Most puzzles word games terms will be familiar, but you are sure to find a term that has you saying, “I did not know that”.
This lesson is part of the Learn Skill Games program.


Puzzles Terms at Puzzles Word Games Terms
Antique Puzzles: This term is used to reference jigsaw puzzles that were created before the year 1890.
C Cut: Puzzles and pieces that have a C cut shape which interlocks.
Combination Puzzles: Combination puzzles are those identified as sequential. They have several pieces that are moveable and the solver can move the pieces around in order to group them in a specific manner.  Example: Rubik’s Cube.
Construction Puzzles: Require the puzzle solver to utilize specific pieces in order to design a particular outcome.  Tiling, stick, and mechanical puzzles are considered types of construction puzzles.
Contour Cut: Refers to jigsaw puzzles and describes a piece that has been cut to follow along the natural contours of an object in the image.  Example: Puzzle with an image of the United States.
Disentanglement Puzzles: With this type, the puzzle solver is required to get two or more pieces separated.  Some puzzles challenge the solver to put the puzzle back together as well.
Folding Puzzles: Similar to the practice of origami; the solver seeks to fold a piece of paper in a particular manner so that a specified portion of that paper appears in the specified location.
Impossible Object: In puzzle lingo, an impossible object is a puzzle that will either not be easily disassembled or it is seemingly impossible to solve. This creates a challenge to the solver.
Innies/Outies:Slang term used to describe jigsaw puzzle pieces, both those with tabs than those without.
Lock Puzzles: Puzzle boxes or other puzzle forms where the solver is challenged to uncover a secret.  Lock puzzles require special maneuvers in order to unlock the puzzle in order to be solved.
Logic Puzzles: Rely on the implementation of mathematical deduction in order that the puzzle can be properly solved. 
Mechanical Puzzles: Include the use of several pieces that are movable/interlinked.  The solver is then challenged to discover the precise pattern that the puzzle uses to be returned to a specific state.  Example: Rubik's Cube.
OB: This term is used to describe the condition of a jigsaw puzzle box. The actual term means "original box."
S Cut: Describes jigsaw puzzles and is used in reference to pieces that have two adjacent C cuts--one forward and one in the opposite direction that in turn, create locks on two sides of the jigsaw cut.
Vintage: Describes jigsaw puzzles that were created between the years 1900 and up to World War II.
Whimsies: This term is used to describe some of the more ornate shapes in a jigsaw puzzle.


Word Game Terms at Puzzles Word Games Terms
Acrostics:  Puzzles where the solver finds that each letter in the beginning of a selected word is part of the solution.  An example of an acrostic is “IRS” = “Internal Revenue Service.”
Anagrams: These word games involve taking the letters of one or more words and rearranging them to create new words from the same letters. The new word that is formed must illuminate the word from which the letters are derived.  Example: “Debit Card” is an anagram for “Bad Credit.”
Bar: Describes the thin black line that appears between the squares within a crossword grid.
Blanks: This puzzles word games term describes black cells within a crossword puzzle grid.
Blocks: Describes the black cells within a crossword puzzle grid.
Checked: Used to describe the white/empty cells within a crossword grid that assists in forming more than a single entry.
Compiler: This puzzles word games term refers to the creator of a crossword puzzle.
Constructor: Describes the creator of a word search or crossword puzzle.
Cruciverbalist: Describes a crossword designer.
Darks: Used to describe any filled in/black cells within a crossword puzzle.
Definition Puzzle: This puzzles word games term is considered a puzzle that is in direct opposition of a cryptic puzzle; clues provided for this are clear definitions of what the answers should be.
Entries: Vertical/horizontal, empty/white fill-in cells where a puzzle solver places his or her answers to clues in.
Grid: Used to describe the crossword puzzle pattern where entries are placed.  This term can also be used to describe a Sudoku board.
Keyed: The white/empty cells within a crossword grid that assists in forming more than a single entry.
Lights: Any empty/white cells within a crossword puzzle.
Rotational Symmetry: Describes a specific kind of grid that looks the same at 90° and 180° angles.
Setter: The creator of a crossword puzzle or word search.
Solver: Anyone who is trying to solve a puzzle.
Straight: A straight is a type of definition puzzle.
Unch: This term describes an unchecked letter or crossword puzzle or it is a letter that is only part of one entry in the puzzle.
Uncrossed: The term uncrossed is used to describe the white/empty cells within a crossword grid that assists in forming more than a single entry.

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