Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

sin·gle       (sĭng'gəl)  Pronunciation Key  adj.   Not accompanied by another or others; solitary. Consisting of one part, aspect, or section: a single thickness; a single serving. Having the same application for all; uniform: a single moral code for all. Consisting of one in number: She had but a single thought, which was to escape. Separate from others; individual and distinct: Every single child will receive a gift. Having individual opponents; involving two individuals only: single combat. Honest; undisguised: a single adoration. Wholly attentive: You must judge the contest with a single eye. Unmarried. Lacking a partner: a single parent. Relating to the unmarried state: enjoys the single life. Of or relating to celibacy. Not divided; unbroken: a single slab of ice. Separate from others; individual and distinct: Every single child will receive a gift. Having individual opponents; involving two individuals only: single combat. Honest; undisguised: a single adoration. Wholly attentive: You must judge the contest with a single eye. Unmarried. Lacking a partner: a single parent. Relating to the unmarried state: enjoys the single life. Of or relating to celibacy. Honest; undisguised: a single adoration. Wholly attentive: You must judge the contest with a single eye. Unmarried. Lacking a partner: a single parent. Relating to the unmarried state: enjoys the single life. Of or relating to celibacy. Designed to accommodate one person: a single bed. Unmarried. Lacking a partner: a single parent. Relating to the unmarried state: enjoys the single life. Of or relating to celibacy. Botany Having only one rank or row of petals: a single flower. n.   One that is separate and individual. An accommodation for one person, as in a hotel. An unmarried person. singles Unmarried persons considered as a group: a bar for singles. A phonograph record, especially a forty-five, having one song on each side. A song on one of these sides. A song, often from a full-length album or compact disk, that is released for airplay. A hit for one run in cricket. A golf match between two players. A tennis or badminton match between two players. Often used in the plural. singles A competition in which individuals compete against each other, as in rowing or figure skating. A one-dollar bill. A phonograph record, especially a forty-five, having one song on each side. A song on one of these sides. A song, often from a full-length album or compact disk, that is released for airplay. A hit for one run in cricket. A golf match between two players. A tennis or badminton match between two players. Often used in the plural. singles A competition in which individuals compete against each other, as in rowing or figure skating. Baseball A hit by which a batter reaches first base safely; a one-base hit. Sports A hit for one run in cricket. A golf match between two players. A tennis or badminton match between two players. Often used in the plural. singles A competition in which individuals compete against each other, as in rowing or figure skating. v.   sin·gled, sin·gling, sin·gles v.   tr. To choose or distinguish from others. Often used with out: We singled her out from the list of applicants. Baseball To cause (a base runner) to score or advance by making a one-base hit: singled him to second. To cause the scoring of (a run) by a one-base hit. v.   intr. Baseball To make a single. [Middle English sengle, from Old French, from Latin singulus; see sem-1 in Indo-European roots.] sin'gle·ness n.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
single  (adj.)

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
single  (n.)

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

single
adjective
1.	being or characteristic of a single thing or person; "individual drops of rain"; "please mark the individual pages"; "they went their individual ways" [syn: individual] [ant: common]
2.	used of flowers having usually only one row or whorl of petals; "single chrysanthemums resemble daisies and may have more than one row of petals" [ant: double]
3.	existing alone or consisting of one entity or part or aspect or individual; "upon the hill stood a single tower"; "had but a single thought which was to escape"; "a single survivor"; "a single serving"; "a single lens"; "a single thickness" [ant: multiple]
4.	not married or related to the unmarried state; "unmarried men and women"; "unmarried life"; "sex and the single girl"; "single parenthood"; "are you married or single?" [syn: unmarried] [ant: married]
5.	characteristic of or meant for a single person or thing; "an individual serving"; "single occupancy"; "a single bed" [syn: individual]
6.	having uniform application; "a single legal code for all"
7.	not divided among or brought to bear on more than one object or objective; "judging a contest with a single eye"; "a single devotion to duty"; "undivided affection"; "gained their exclusive attention"
noun
1.	a base hit on which the batter stops safely at first base
2.	the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number; "he has the one but will need a two and three to go with it"; "they had lunch at one" [syn: one]
verb
1.	hit a single; "the batter singled to left field"

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

single

In addition to the idioms beginning with single, also see each and every (every single).

Investopedia - Cite This Source - Share This

Single

The filing status used by a taxpayer who is unmarried and does not qualify for any other filing status.

Investopedia Commentary

Your filing status does affect your taxation bracket.

See also: Filing Status, Full-Time Student, Marital Deduction, Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Single

Sim"ple\, a. [Compar. Simpler; superl. Simplest.] [F., fr. L. simplus, or simplex, gen. simplicis. The first part of the Latin words is probably akin to E. same, and the sense, one, one and the same; cf. L. semel once, singuli one to each, single. Cg. Single, a., Same, a., and for the last part of the word cf. Double, Complex.]

1. Single; not complex; not infolded or entangled; uncombined; not compounded; not blended with something else; not complicated; as, a simple substance; a simple idea; a simple sound; a simple machine; a simple problem; simple tasks.

2. Plain; unadorned; as, simple dress. "Simple truth." --Spenser. "His simple story." --Burns.

3. Mere; not other than; being only.

A medicine . . . whose simple touch Is powerful to araise King Pepin. --Shak.

4. Not given to artifice, stratagem, or duplicity; undesigning; sincere; true.

Full many fine men go upon my score, as simple as I stand here, and I trust them. --Marston.

Must thou trust Tradition's simple tongue? --Byron.

To be simple is to be great. --Emerson.

5. Artless in manner; unaffected; unconstrained; natural; inartificial;; straightforward.

In simple manners all the secret lies. --Young.

6. Direct; clear; intelligible; not abstruse or enigmatical; as, a simple statement; simple language.

7. Weak in intellect; not wise or sagacious; of but moderate understanding or attainments; hence, foolish; silly. "You have simple wits." --Shak.

The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man looketh well to his going. --Prov. xiv. 15.

8. Not luxurious; without much variety; plain; as, a simple diet; a simple way of living.

Thy simple fare and all thy plain delights. --Cowper.

9. Humble; lowly; undistinguished.

A simple husbandman in garments gray. --Spenser.

Clergy and laity, male and female, gentle and simple made the fuel of the same fire. --Fuller.

10. (BOt.) Without subdivisions; entire; as, a simple stem; a simple leaf.

11. (Chem.) Not capable of being decomposed into anything more simple or ultimate by any means at present known; elementary; thus, atoms are regarded as simple bodies. Cf. Ultimate, a.

Note: A simple body is one that has not as yet been decomposed. There are indications that many of our simple elements are still compound bodies, though their actual decomposition into anything simpler may never be accomplished.

12. (Min.) Homogenous.

13. (Zo["o]l.) Consisting of a single individual or zooid; as, a simple ascidian; -- opposed to compound.

Simple contract (Law), any contract, whether verbal or written, which is not of record or under seal. --J. W. Smith. --Chitty.

Simple equation (Alg.), an eqyation containing but one unknown quantity, and that quantity only in the first degree.

Simple eye (Zo["o]l.), an eye having a single lens; -- opposed to compound eye.

Simple interest. See under Interest.

Simple larceny. (Law) See under Larceny.

Simple obligation (Rom. Law), an obligation which does not depend for its execution upon any event provided for by the parties, or is not to become void on the happening of any such event. --Burrill.

Syn: Single; uncompounded; unmingled; unmixed; mere; uncombined; elementary; plain; artless; sincere; harmless; undesigning; frank; open; unaffected; inartificial; unadorned; credulous; silly; foolish; shallow; unwise.

Usage: Simple, Silly. One who is simple is sincere, unaffected, and inexperienced in duplicity, -- hence liable to be duped. A silly person is one who is ignorant or weak and also self-confident; hence, one who shows in speech and act a lack of good sense. Simplicity is incompatible with duplicity, artfulness, or vanity, while silliness is consistent with all three. Simplicity denotes lack of knowledge or of guile; silliness denotes want of judgment or right purpose, a defect of character as well as of education.

I am a simple woman, much too weak To oppose your cunning. --Shak.

He is the companion of the silliest people in their most silly pleasure; he is ready for every impertinent entertainment and diversion. --Law.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Single

Sin*cere"\, a. [Compar. Sincerer; superl. Sincerest.] [L. sincerus, of uncertain origin; the first part perhaps akin to sin- in singuli (see Single), and the second to cernere to separate (cf. Discern): cf. F. sinc[`e]re.]

1. Pure; unmixed; unadulterated.

There is no sincere acid in any animal juice. --Arbuthnot.

A joy which never was sincere till now. --Dryden.

2. Whole; perfect; unhurt; uninjured. [Obs.]

The inviolable body stood sincere. --Dryden.

3. Being in reality what it appears to be; having a character which corresponds with the appearance; not falsely assumed; genuine; true; real; as, a sincere desire for knowledge; a sincere contempt for meanness.

A sincere intention of pleasing God in all our actions. --Law.

4. Honest; free from hypocrisy or dissimulation; as, a sincere friend; a sincere person.

The more sincere you are, the better it will fare with you at the great day of account. --Waterland.

Syn: Honest; unfeigned; unvarnished; real; true; unaffected; inartificial; frank; upright. See Hearty.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Single

Sin"gle\, a. [L. singulus, a dim. from the root in simplex simple; cf. OE. & OF. sengle, fr. L. singulus. See Simple, and cf. Singular.]

1. One only, as distinguished from more than one; consisting of one alone; individual; separate; as, a single star.

No single man is born with a right of controlling the opinions of all the rest. --Pope.

2. Alone; having no companion.

Who single hast maintained, Against revolted multitudes, the cause Of truth. --Milton.

3. Hence, unmarried; as, a single man or woman.

Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness. --Shak.

Single chose to live, and shunned to wed. --Dryden.

4. Not doubled, twisted together, or combined with others; as, a single thread; a single strand of a rope.

5. Performed by one person, or one on each side; as, a single combat.

These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant, . . . Who now defles thee thrice ti single fight. --Milton.

6. Uncompounded; pure; unmixed.

Simple ideas are opposed to complex, and single to compound. --I. Watts.

7. Not deceitful or artful; honest; sincere.

I speak it with a single heart. --Shak.

8. Simple; not wise; weak; silly. [Obs.]

He utters such single matter in so infantly a voice. --Beau. & Fl.

Single ale, beer, or drink, small ale, etc., as contrasted with double ale, etc., which is stronger. [Obs.] --Nares.

Single bill (Law), a written engagement, generally under seal, for the payment of money, without a penalty. --Burril.

Single court (Lawn Tennis), a court laid out for only two players.

Single-cut file. See the Note under 4th File.

Single entry. See under Bookkeeping.

Single file. See under 1st File.

Single flower (Bot.), a flower with but one set of petals, as a wild rose.

Single knot. See Illust. under Knot.

Single whip (Naut.), a single rope running through a fixed block.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Single

Sin"gle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Singled; p. pr. & vb. n. Singling.]

1. To select, as an individual person or thing, from among a number; to choose out from others; to separate.

Dogs who hereby can single out their master in the dark. --Bacon.

His blood! she faintly screamed her mind Still singling one from all mankind. --More.

2. To sequester; to withdraw; to retire. [Obs.]

An agent singling itself from consorts. --Hooker.

3. To take alone, or one by one.

Men . . . commendable when they are singled. --Hooker.

Acronym Finder - Cite This Source - Share This

SINGLE

SINGLE: in Acronym Finder

On-line Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

single

single: in CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary