double

adjective

1》 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.

2》 having twice the usual size, quantity, or strength: a double brandy.

3》 designed to be used by two people.

4》 Music lower in pitch by an octave.

predeterminer twice as much or as many.

adverb at or to twice the amount or extent.

noun

1》 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.

2》 a person who looks exactly like another.

3》 Brit. two sporting victories or championships in the same season, event, etc.

4》 (doubles) a game involving sides made up of two players.

5》 Bell-ringing a system of change-ringing using five bells, with two pairs changing places each time.

pronoun an amount twice as large as usual.

verb

1》 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.

2》 fold or bend over on itself.

    ↘(double up) bend over or curl up, typically with pain or mirth.

3》 (double back) go back in the direction one has come.

4》 (double (up) as) be used in or play another, different role.

5》 Music add the same note in a higher or lower octave to (a note).

6》 Snooker pot (a ball) by making it rebound off a cushion.

Phrases

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.

Derivatives

doubleness noun

doubler noun

doubly adverb

Origin

ME: via OFr. from L. duplus (see duple).