double Hear it!

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double definition

dou·ble (dub′əl)

adjective

  1. two combined; twofold; duplex
  2. having two layers; folded in two
  3. having two of one kind; paired; repeated a double consonant
  4. being of two kinds; dual a double standard
  5. having two meanings; ambiguous
  6. twice as much, as many, as large, etc. pay double fare
  7. of extra size, value, strength, or quantity
  8. designed or made for two a double bed
  9. characterized by duplicity; two-faced; deceiving leading a double life
  10. having a tone an octave lower double bass
  11. Bot. having more than one set of petals

Etymology: ME < OFr < L duplus, lit., twofold (akin to Gr diploos) < duo, two + -plus < IE *plo-, -fold < base *pel-, to fold

adverb

  1. to twice the extent or degree; twofold
  2. two together; in or by pairs to ride double

noun

  1. anything twice as much, as many, or as large as normal
  2. a person or thing looking very much like another; duplicate; counterpart
  3. a substitute actor or singer
  4. a stand-in or substitute, as in films
  5. a fold; second ply
  6. a sharp turn or shift of direction
  7. an evasive trick
  8. a game of tennis, handball, etc. with two players on each side
  9. ☆ Baseball a hit on which the batter reaches second base
  10. Bridge the doubling of an opponent's bid

transitive verb doubled -·bled, doubling -·bling

  1. to make double; make twice as much or as many; multiply by two
  2. to fold; add another ply to double the bandage
  3. to repeat or duplicate
  4. to be the double of
  5. ☆ Baseball
    1. to put out (the second runner) in executing a double play
    2. to advance (a runner) by hitting a double
  6. Bridge to increase the point value or penalty of (an opponent's bid) by saying “double” when it is one's turn to bid
  7. Music to supply the upper or lower octave to (another part or voice) double the tenor in brass
  8. Naut. to sail around they doubled Cape Horn

intransitive verb

  1. to become double; increase twofold
  2. to bend or turn sharply backward the animal doubled on its tracks
  3. to serve as a double
  4. to serve an additional purpose
  5. ☆ Informal to double-date
  6. ☆ Baseball to hit a double
  7. Music to play one or more instruments in addition to one's principal instrument: often with on
double Idioms

double back

  1. to fold back
  2. to turn and go back in the direction from which one came

double in brass

☆
Slang to do or be capable of doing something additional to one's specialty

double up

  1. to fold completely; clench (one's fist)
  2. to bend over, as in laughter or pain
  3. to share a room, etc. with someone

on the double

or at the doubleInformal
  1. in double time (sense )
  2. quickly

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms double idiom

double Synonyms

double

modif.

twofold, twice, paired, coupled, twin, binary, binate, geminate, doubled, redoubled, duplex, renewed, dual, repeated, second, as much again, duplicated, ambiguous, double-barreled, duple, two-ply, folded; see also twice, twin.

Antonyms single*, alone*, apart.

on the double*

hastily, rapidly, hurriedly, right away; see quickly 1.


double

n.

duplicate, counterpart, twin, stand-in; see duplicate, equal, substitute.


double

v.

  1. To make or become double

    make twice as much, duplicate, multiply, fold over; see fold 2, grow 1, increase 1.

  2. To replace

    substitute for, stand in, act for; see substitute 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

double Usage Examples

Object

  • click: A normal chat room user can double click on a user to chat privately to that person.

Adjective modifier

  • mixed: The mixed doubles went to WO1 Mancrief and Cpl Stiff ( BFPO ).

Modifies a noun

  • bedroom: Each double bedroom also has a full sized single bed.

Modifying Another Word

  • nearly: Social housing was a winner in the Comprehensive Spending Review of July 2000 expenditure will nearly double up to 2003/04.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • up: Social housing was a winner in the Comprehensive Spending Review of July 2000 expenditure will nearly double up to 2003/04.
double usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

double quotes

Global double zero.

-Anonymous

I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time. That would be hypocrisy.

-Wilde, Oscar Fingal O'FlahertieWills

double quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"double." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/double>

APA Style

double. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/double

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