double
• adjective 1 consisting of two equal, identical, or similar parts or things. 2 having twice the usual size, quantity, or strength: a double brandy. 3 designed to be used by two people. 4 having two different roles or interpretations: she began a double life. 5 (of a flower) having more than one circle of petals. • 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. 2 a person who looks exactly like another. 3 (doubles) a game involving sides made up of two players. 4 Brit. (the double) the winning of two sporting trophies in the same season. 5 Darts a hit on the ring enclosed by the two outer circles of a dartboard, scoring double. • pronoun an amount twice as large as usual. • verb 1 make or become double. 2 fold or bend over on itself. 3 (double up) bend over or curl up with pain or laughter. 4 (double (up) as) be used in or play another, different role. 5 (double back) go back in the direction one has come. — PHRASES at the double very fast. — DERIVATIVES doubleness noun doubler noun doubly adverb. — ORIGIN Latin duplus, from duo ‘two’.
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