DOUBLE


Meaning of DOUBLE in English

/ ˈdʌbl; NAmE / adjective , determiner , adverb , noun , verb

■ adjective

[ usually before noun ]

TWICE AS MUCH / MANY

1.

twice as much or as many as usual :

a double helping

two double whiskies

WITH TWO PARTS

2.

having or made of two things or parts that are equal or similar :

double doors

a double-page advertisement

'Otter' is spelt with a double t.

My extension is two four double 0 (2400).

FOR TWO PEOPLE

3.

made for two people or things :

a double bed / room

—compare single adjective (4)

COMBINING TWO THINGS

4.

combining two things or qualities :

a double meaning / purpose / aim

It has the double advantage of being both easy and cheap.

■ determiner

TWICE AS MUCH / MANY

twice as much or as many as :

His income is double hers.

He earns double what she does.

We need double the amount we already have.

■ adverb

IN TWO PARTS

in twos or in two parts :

I thought I was seeing double (= seeing two of sth) .

Fold the blanket double.

I had to bend double to get under the table.

■ noun

TWICE AS MUCH / MANY

1.

[ U ] twice the number or amount :

He gets paid double for doing the same job I do.

ALCOHOLIC DRINK

2.

[ C ] a glass of strong alcoholic drink containing twice the usual amount :

Two Scotches, please—and make those doubles, will you?

PERSON / THING

3.

[ C ] a person or thing that looks exactly like another :

She's the double of her mother.

4.

[ C ] an actor who replaces another actor in a film / movie to do dangerous or other special things

—see also body double

BEDROOM

5.

[ C ] = double room :

Is that a single or a double you want?

—compare single noun (3)

IN SPORT

6.

doubles [ U+sing./pl. v . ] a game, especially of tennis , in which one pair plays another :

mixed doubles (= in which each pair consists of a man and a woman)

—compare singles noun (5)

7.

the double [ sing. ] the fact of winning two important competitions or beating the same player or team twice, in the same season or year

IDIOMS

- at the double

- double or quits

■ verb

BECOME TWICE AS MUCH / MANY

1.

to become, or make sth become, twice as much or as many :

[ v ]

Membership almost doubled in two years.

[ vn ]

Double all the quantities in the recipe to make enough for eight people.

FOLD

2.

[ vn ] double sth (over) to bend or fold sth so that there are two layers :

She doubled the blanket and put it under his head.

IN BASEBALL

3.

[ v ] to hit the ball far enough for you to get to second base :

He doubled to left field.

PHRASAL VERBS

- double as sth | double up as sth

- double back

- double up (on sth / with sb)

- double up / over | double sb up / over

••

SYNONYMS

double / dual

These adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:

| double ~ | dual ~ |

| bed | purpose |

| doors | function |

| figures | role |

| standards | approach |

| thickness | citizenship |

Dual describes something that has two parts, uses or aspects.

Double can be used with a similar meaning, but when it is used to describe something that has two parts, the two parts are usually the same or very similar.

Double , but not dual , can describe something that is made for two people or things, or is twice as big as usual.

••

WORD ORIGIN

Middle English : via Old French from Latin duplus , from duo two The verb is from Old French dobler , from late Latin duplare , from duplus .

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.