/ 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 .