adj.
- consisting of two equal, identical, or similar parts or things:
double doors.
▸having two different roles or interpretations.
▸(of a flower) having more than one circle of petals.
▸(of a domino) having the same number of pips on each half.
- having twice the usual size, quantity, or strength:
a double brandy.
- designed to be used by two people.
- Music lower in pitch by an octave.
predet.
twice as much or as many.
adv.
at or to twice the amount or extent.
n.
- a thing which is twice as large as usual or is made up of two parts.
▸a system of betting in which the winnings from the first bet are transferred to a second.
▸Darts a hit on the ring enclosed by the two outer circles of a dartboard, scoring double.
▸Bridge a call that increases the penalty points for the defenders if the declarer fails to make the contract.
- a person who looks exactly like another.
- Brit. two sporting victories or championships in the same season, event, etc.
-
(doubles)
a game involving sides made up of two players.
- Bell-ringing a system of change-ringing using five bells, with two pairs changing places each time.
pron.
an amount twice as large as usual.
v.
- make or become double.
▸
(double up)
share a room.
▸
(double up)
use the winnings from a bet as the stake for another bet.
▸Bridge call a double.
- fold or bend over on itself.
▸
(double up)
bend over or curl up, typically with pain or mirth.
-
(double back)
go back in the direction one has come.
-
(double up as)
be used in or play another, different role.
- Music add the same note in a higher or lower octave to (a note).
- Snooker pot (a ball) by making it rebound off a cushion.
Phrase
- at
(or US on)
the double
very fast. - double or quits
(or US nothing)
a gamble to decide whether a debt should be doubled or cancelled.
Derivative
- doubleness n.
- doubler n.
- doubly adv.
Etymology
ME: via OFr. from L. duplus (see duple).