adj., n., & v.
adj. 1 one only, not double or multiple. 2 united or undivided. 3 a designed or suitable for one person (single room). b used or done by one person etc. or one set or pair. 4 one by itself; not one of several (a single tree). 5 regarded separately (every single thing). 6 not married. 7 Brit. (of a ticket) valid for an outward journey only, not for the return. 8 (with neg. or interrog.) even one; not to speak of more (did not see a single person). 9 (of a flower) having only one circle of petals. 10 lonely, unaided. 11 archaic free from duplicity, sincere, consistent, guileless, ingenuous.
n. 1 a single thing, or item in a series. 2 Brit. a single ticket. 3 a short pop record with one piece of music etc. on each side. 4 Cricket a hit for one run. 5 (usu. in pl.) a game with one player on each side. 6 an unmarried person (young singles). 7 sl. US a one-dollar note.
v.tr. (foll. by out) choose as an example or as distinguishable or to serve some purpose. single acrostic see ACROSTIC. single-acting (of an engine etc.) having pressure applied only to one side of the piston. single-breasted (of a coat etc.) having only one set of buttons and buttonholes, not overlapping. single combat a duel. single cream thin cream with a relatively low fat-content. single cut (of a file) with grooves cut in one direction only, not crossing. single-decker esp. Brit. a bus having only one deck. single entry a system of bookkeeping in which each transaction is entered in one account only. single file a line of people or things arranged one behind another. single-handed adv. 1 without help from another. 2 with one hand.
adj. 1 done etc. single-handed. 2 for one hand. single-handedly in a single-handed way. single-lens reflex denoting a reflex camera in which a single lens serves the film and the viewfinder. single-line with movement of traffic in only one direction at a time. single parent a person bringing up a child or children without a partner. singles bar a bar for single people seeking company. single-seater a vehicle with one seat. single stick 1 a basket-hilted stick of about a sword's length. 2 one-handed fencing with this. single-tree US = SWINGLETREE. singleness n. singly adv.
[ ME f. OF f. L singulus, rel. to simplus SIMPLE ]