/ ˈsɪŋgl; NAmE / adjective , noun , verb
■ adjective
ONE
1.
[ only before noun ] only one :
He sent her a single red rose.
a single-sex school (= for boys only or for girls only)
All these jobs can now be done by one single machine.
I couldn't understand a single word she said!
the European single currency , the euro
( BrE )
a single honours degree (= for which you study only one subject)
FOR EMPHASIS
2.
[ only before noun ] used to emphasize that you are referring to one particular person or thing on its own :
Unemployment is the single most important factor in the growing crime rates.
We eat rice every single day .
NOT MARRIED
3.
( of a person ) not married or having a romantic relationship with sb :
The apartments are ideal for single people living alone.
Are you still single?
—see also single parent
FOR ONE PERSON
4.
[ only before noun ] intended to be used by only one person :
a single bed / room
—compare double adjective (3)
TICKET
5.
[ only before noun ] ( BrE ) (also one-way NAmE , BrE ) a single ticket, etc. can be used for travelling to a place but not back again :
a single ticket
How much is the single fare to Glasgow?
—compare return noun (7)
•
IDIOMS
see file noun , glance noun
■ noun
TICKET
1.
[ C ] ( BrE ) a ticket that allows you to travel to a place but not back again :
How much is a single to York?
—compare return noun (7)
TAPE / CD
2.
[ C ] a piece of recorded music, usually popular music, that consists of one song; the tape, CD, etc. that this is recorded onto :
The band releases its new single next week.
—compare album
ROOM
3.
[ C ] a room in a hotel, etc. for one person
—compare double noun (5)
MONEY
4.
[ C ] ( NAmE ) a bill / note that is worth one dollar
—compare double noun (5)
UNMARRIED PEOPLE
5.
singles [ pl. ] people who are not married and do not have a romantic relationship with sb else :
They organize parties for singles.
a singles bar / club
IN SPORT
6.
singles [ U+sing./pl. v . ] ( especially in tennis ) a game when only one player plays against one other; a series of two or more of these games :
the women's singles champion
the first round of the men's singles
a singles match
She's won three singles titles this year.
—compare doubles noun (6)
7.
[ C ] ( in cricket ) a hit from which a player scores one run (= point)
8.
[ C ] ( in baseball ) a hit that only allows the player to run to first base
■ verb
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- single sb/sth out (for sth / as sb/sth)
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : via Old French from Latin singulus , related to simplus simple.