double
pronunciation
How to pronounce double in British English:
UK [ˈdʌbl]
How to pronounce double in American English:
US [ˈdʌbl]
-
- Noun:
- a base hit on which the batter stops safely at second base
- a stand-in for movie stars to perform dangerous stunts
- someone who closely resembles a famous person (especially an actor)
- a quantity that is twice as great as another
- raising the stakes in a card game by a factor of 2
-
- Verb:
- increase twofold
- hit a two-base hit
- bend over or curl up, usually with laughter or pain
- do double duty; serve two purposes or have two functions
- bridge: make a demand for (a card or suit)
- make or do or perform again
-
- Adjective:
- having more than one decidedly dissimilar aspects or qualities
- consisting of or involving two parts or components usually in pairs
- twice as great or many
- used of flowers having more than the usual number of petals in crowded or overlapping arrangements
- used of homologous chromosomes associated in pairs in synapsis
- large enough for two
- having two meanings with intent to deceive
-
- Adverb:
- downward and forward
- two together
- to double the degree
Word Origin
- double
- double: [13] Double comes via Old French doble or duble from Latin duplus (direct source of English duple [16]). This was a compound adjective formed from duo ‘two’ and an Indo- European element *pl- which denoted ‘folding’ (it is present also in English fold and ply). The same semantic elements went to make up English twofold, and indeed duplex (see DUPLICATE), and also Greek diplous (source of English diploma and diplomat).The underlying meaning of doublet ‘close-fitting jacket’ [14] (borrowed from French doublet, a derivative of double) is ‘something folded’, while doubloon [17], borrowed via French doublon from Spanish doblón (a derivative of doble ‘double’) was originally a gold coin worth ‘double’ a pistole.=> diploma, diplomat, dub, duplicate, fold, ply
- double (adj.)
- early 13c., from Old French doble (10c.) "double, two-fold; two-faced, deceitful," from Latin duplus "twofold, twich as much" from duo "two" (see two) + -plus "more" (see -plus). Double standard attested by 1951. Military double time (1833) originally was 130 steps per minute.
- double (v.)
- late 13c., "make double," from Old French dobler, from Latin duplare, from duplus (see double (adj.)). Meaning "to work as, in addition to one's regular job" is c. 1920, circus slang, from performers who also played in the band. Related: Doubled; doubling. To double up bodily is from 1814. A blow on the stomach "doubles up" the boxer, and occasions that gasping and crowing which sufficiently indicate the cause of the injury .... [Donald Walker, "Defensive Exercises," 1840]
- double (n.)
- mid-14c., "amount twice as great," also "duplicate copy," from double (adj.).
Antonym
Example
- 1. This woman leads a double life .
- 2. But what if I double your fee ?
- 3. This alienation is a double tragedy .
- 4. I particularly dislike their double standards .
- 5. Unemployment is double what it was a year ago .