Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun trademark A puzzle video game in which falling tetrominoes must be manipulated to form complete lines, which are then cleared from the grid.
  • noun video games, by extension The act of clearing four lines at once (the maximum possible) in Tetris.
  • noun figuratively An endeavor involving rearranging things of different shape into a physical space.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Russian Тетрис (Tétris), coined by the creator of the game, Alexey Pajitnov, from the Greek numerical prefix тетра- ("tetra-") (as all of the game's pieces contain four segments) and теннис ("tennis"), his favourite sport.

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Examples

  • HONOLULU, HI -- 04/13/10 -- Tetris Online, Inc. today announced that it has surpassed 1 million registered users on the official Web-based Tetris® game destination in North America, Tetris Friends Online Games (www. tetrisfriends.com).

    The Earth Times Online Newspaper 2010

  • HONOLULU - Oct. 20, 2008 - Tetris Online, Inc. (www. tetrisonline.com) today announced the launch of Tetris® Party-the newest official game of Tetris-for Nintendo's downloadable games service: WiiWare ™.

    GoNintendo.com Podcast 2008

  • Tetris is so popular, that two artists, Diego Silverio and Helder Filipov, have created epic and modern pieces of furniture which are modeled after the famed tetriminoes.

    Tetris Apartments 2009

  • Even Tetris is as much a test of reflexes as lateral thinking.

    The player: Professor Layton is back – hooray! Naomi Alderman 2010

  • There are very very very few games that stand up as completely symbolic representation and manipulation - Tetris is the only one that comes to me off the top of my head.

    Kicking The Dog SVGL 2009

  • Tetris is one of the most classic and phenomenal games ever created.

    Tetris Apartments 2009

  • "There are very very very few games that stand up as completely symbolic representation and manipulation - Tetris is the only one that comes to me off the top of my head."

    Kicking The Dog SVGL 2009

  • Apart from being a fine game, Tetris is also a perfect mirror of the human condition.

    Suttree » Casual Games, Social Software » Tetris 2006

  • Released in 1990 and exploding onto the world with its monochrome falling blocks game called Tetris, the Gameboy was a bulky two-button affair.

    Yahoo! News: Latest news headlines News Headlines | Top Stories 2010

  • Released in 1990 and exploding onto the world with its monochrome falling blocks game called Tetris, the Gameboy was a bulky two-button affair.

    Yahoo! News: Latest news headlines News Headlines | Top Stories 2010

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