■ adjective
1》 only one; not one of several.
↘regarded as distinct from others in a group.
↘[with negative ] even one (used for emphasis): they didn't receive a ~ reply.
↘designed or suitable for one person.
2》 not involved in a stable romantic or sexual relationship.
3》 consisting of one participle
↘(of a flower) having only one whorl of petals.
4》 Brit. (of a ticket) valid for an outward journey only.
5》 archaic free from duplicity or deceit: a pure and ~ heart.
■ noun
1》 a ~ person or thing.
2》 a short record with one song on each side.
3》 US informal a one-dollar note.
4》 Cricket a hit for one run.
↘ Baseball a hit which allows the batter to proceed safely to first base.
5》 ( ~s ) (especially in tennis and badminton) a game or competition for individual players.
6》 Bell-ringing a system of change-ringing in which one pair of bells changes places at each round.
■ verb
1》 ( ~ someone/thing out ) choose someone or something from a group for special treatment.
2》 thin out (seedlings or saplings).
3》 reduce (a railway track) to a ~ line.
4》 Baseball hit a ~.
↘cause (a run) to be scored by hitting a ~.
↘advance (a runner) by hitting a ~.
Derivatives
~ness noun
singly adverb
Origin
ME: via OFr. from L. singulus , related to simplus 'simple'.