twice S2 W2 /twaɪs/ BrE AmE adverb , predeterminer
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: twiga ]
1 . two times:
He was questioned by police twice yesterday.
twice a day/week/year etc (=two times in the same day, week etc)
Letters were delivered twice a week only.
None of our dinner menus are exactly the same twice over.
2 . two times more, bigger, better etc than something else
twice as many/much (as something)
They employ 90 people, twice as many as last year.
twice as high/big/large etc (as something)
Interest rates are twice as high as those of our competitors.
twice the size/number/rate/amount etc
an area twice the size of Britain
⇨ once bitten, twice shy at ↑ once 1 (19), ⇨ once or twice at ↑ once 1 (12), ⇨ think twice at ↑ think 1 (8)
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ pair two things of the same type that you use together. Also used about two people who do something together or who you often see together:
a pair of shoes
|
a pair of socks
|
Winners will receive a pair of tickets for the show.
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The pair were arrested six days after the killing.
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They're a funny pair!
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The British pair will be playing in the final on Saturday.
▪ a couple (of something) two things of the same type, or a very small number of things:
There were a couple of empty seats at the table.
|
Do you have any stamps? I just need a couple.
▪ couple noun [countable] two people who are married or having a sexual relationship:
a married couple
|
The couple met at university.
▪ twins noun [plural] two children who were born on the same day to the same mother:
The twins look very alike.
|
identical twins
▪ duo noun [countable] two people who perform together or who are often seen together:
a comedy duo
▪ duet noun [countable] a piece of music written for two people to play:
They played a duet by Brahms.
▪ twice two times adverb :
The group meets twice a week.
|
She sneezed twice.