solitaire Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a gem (usually a diamond) in a setting by itself
  2. noun extinct flightless bird related to the dodo
    Pezophaps solitaria.
  3. noun a dull grey North American thrush noted for its beautiful song
  4. noun a card game played by one person
    patience.

WordNet

Sol`i*taire" noun
Etymology
F. See Solitary.
Definitions
  1. A person who lives in solitude; a recluse; a hermit. Pope.
  2. A single diamond in a setting; also, sometimes, a precious stone of any kind set alone.
    Diamond solitaires blazing on his breast and wrists. Mrs. R. H. Davis.
  3. A game which one person can play alone; -- applied to many games of cards, etc.; also, to a game played on a board with pegs or balls, in which the object is, beginning with all the places filled except one, to remove all but one of the pieces by "jumping," as in draughts.
  4. (Zoöl.) (a) A large extinct bird (Pezophaps solitaria) which formerly inhabited the islands of Mauritius and Rodrigeuz. It was larger and taller than the wild turkey. Its wings were too small for flight. Called also solitary. (b) Any species of American thrushlike birds of the genus Myadestes. They are noted their sweet songs and retiring habits. Called also fly-catching thrush. A West Indian species (Myadestes sibilans) is called the invisible bird.

Webster 1913