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doubles

 - 5 dictionary results

dou⋅ble

  [duhb-uhl] adjective, noun, verb, -bled, -bling, adverb
Use doubles in a Sentence
–adjective
1. twice as large, heavy, strong, etc.; twofold in size, amount, number, extent, etc.: a double portion; a new house double the size of the old one.
2. composed of two like parts or members; twofold in form; paired: double doors; a double sink.
3. of, pertaining to, or suitable for two persons: a double room.
4. twofold in character, meaning, or conduct; dual or ambiguous: a double interpretation.
5. deceitful; hypocritical; insincere.
6. (of musical instruments) producing a tone an octave lower than the notes indicate.
7. duple, as time or rhythm.
8. folded in two; having one half folded over the other.
9. (of a bed or bedclothes) full-size: a double blanket.
10. Botany. (of flowers) having many more than the normal number of petals: double petunias; double hollyhocks.
–noun
11. anything that is twofold in size or amount or twice the usual size, quantity, strength, etc.
12. a duplicate or counterpart; something exactly or closely resembling another: This dress is the double of that. He is the double of his cousin.
13. Also called double room. a type of hotel accommodation with two beds, or sometimes a double bed, for occupancy by two persons. Compare twin (def. 4).
14. a fold or plait.
15. an alcoholic drink containing twice the usual amount of alcohol.
16. a sudden backward turn or bend, as of a fox on the run in fox hunting; reversal.
17. a trick or artifice, as of argument in a formal debate.
18. a substitute actor or singer ready to take another's place; understudy.
19. Movies, Television. a substitute who performs feats or actions too hazardous or difficult for a star.
20. Baseball. two-base hit.
21. Military. double time.
22. doubles, (used with a singular verb) a game or match in which there are two players on each side, as in tennis.
23. (in bridge or other card games)
a. a challenge by an opponent that the declarer cannot fulfill the designated contract, increasing the points to be won or lost.
b. a hand that warrants such a challenge.
24. Bridge. a conventional bid informing one's partner that a player's hand is of a certain strength.
25. Bowling. two strikes in succession: He needed a double in the tenth frame to win.
26. daily double.
27. any of certain feasts in the Roman Catholic Church, marked by a doubled antiphon and taking precedence over lesser feasts.
28. Music Rare. a variation.
29. a former coin of France, the sixth part of a sol, issued in silver in the 14th century, later made of copper.
–verb (used with object)
30. to make double or twice as great; to add an equal amount to: The baby doubled its weight in a year.
31. to bend or fold with or as with one part over another (often fol. by over, up, back, etc.): Double the edge over before sewing.
32. to clench: He doubled his fists.
33. to be or have twice as much as: Income doubled expenditure.
34. Nautical.
a. to sail around (a projecting area of land): to double Cape Horn.
b. to add a new layer of planking or ceiling to (an old wooden hull).
35. to pair; couple: The players were doubled for the tournament.
36. Music. to reduplicate by means of a tone in another part, either at the unison or at an octave above or below.
37. (in bridge and other card games)
a. to challenge (the bid of an opponent) by making a call that increases the value of tricks to be won or lost.
b. to challenge the bid of (an opponent): He doubled me into game.
38. Baseball.
a. to cause the advance of (a base runner) by a two-base hit: He doubled him to third.
b. to cause (a run) to be scored by a two-base hit (often fol. by in): He doubled in the winning run.
c. to put out (a base runner) as the second out of a double play (often fol. by up).
–verb (used without object)
39. to become double: My money doubled in three years.
40. to bend or fold (often fol. by up or over): to double over with pain.
41. to turn back on a course or reverse direction (often fol. by back): He doubled back by another road and surprised us.
42. Military. to march at the double-time pace.
43. to serve in two capacities or in an additional capacity: She doubles as producer and director.
44. to act as a double in a play, motion picture, or the like.
45. Music. to play an instrument besides one's regular instrument (usually followed by on): The saxophonist doubles on drums.
46. (in bridge and other card games) to double the bid of an opponent.
47. Baseball. to make a two-base hit.
48. to double-date.
–adverb
49. to twice the amount, number, extent, etc.; twofold; doubly.
50. two together: There are only a few beds, so some of the children will have to sleep double for the night.
—Verb phrase
51. double up,
a. to share quarters planned for only one person or family: Because of the room shortage, we had to double up.
b. to bend over, as from pain: He doubled up in agony.
—Idioms
52. at the double, British Informal. on the double.
53. double in brass, Informal. to serve in two capacities; be able to do work different from one's own: It is a small firm, and everyone doubles in brass when emergencies arise.
54. double or nothing, a bet having as its outcome either the doubling of a previous loss or debt or the canceling of that loss or debt. Also, double or quits.
55. on the double, Informal.
a. without delay; rapidly: The fire engines came on the double.
b. in double time, as marching troops.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME < OF < L duplus, equiv. to du(o) two + -plus -fold

Related forms:
dou⋅ble⋅ness, noun
doubler, noun

two-base hit

  [too-beys]
–noun Baseball.
a base hit that enables a batter to reach second base safely.
Also called double.

Origin:
1870–75, Americanism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To doubles
dou·ble   (dŭb'əl)   
adj.  

  1. Twice as much in size, strength, number, or amount: a double dose.

  2. Composed of two like parts: double doors.

  3. Composed of two unlike parts; dual: a double meaning; a double role for an actor.

  4. Accommodating or designed for two: a double bed; a double room.

  5. Characterized by duplicity; deceitful: speak with a double tongue.

  6. Botany Having many more than the usual number of petals, usually in a crowded or an overlapping arrangement: a double chrysanthemum.

n.  

  1. Something increased twofold.

  2. One that closely resembles another; a duplicate.

    1. An actor's understudy.

    2. An actor who takes the place of another actor in scenes requiring special skills or preparations: a stunt double; a body double.

    3. A sharp turn in a direction of movement; a reversal.

    4. A sharp, often devious change in position or argument; a shift.

    5. A bid in bridge indicating strength to one's partner; a request for a bid.

    6. A bid doubling one's opponent's bid in bridge, thus increasing the penalty for failure to fulfill the contract.

    7. A hand justifying such a bid.

  4. An apparition; a wraith.

    1. A sharp turn in a direction of movement; a reversal.

    2. A sharp, often devious change in position or argument; a shift.

    3. A bid in bridge indicating strength to one's partner; a request for a bid.

    4. A bid doubling one's opponent's bid in bridge, thus increasing the penalty for failure to fulfill the contract.

    5. A hand justifying such a bid.

  6. doubles Sports A form of a game, such as tennis or handball, having two players on each side.

  7. Baseball See two-base hit.

  8. Games

    1. A bid in bridge indicating strength to one's partner; a request for a bid.

    2. A bid doubling one's opponent's bid in bridge, thus increasing the penalty for failure to fulfill the contract.

    3. A hand justifying such a bid.

v.   dou·bled, dou·bling, dou·bles

v.   tr.

  1. To make twice as great.

  2. To be twice as much as: doubled the score of his opponent.

  3. To fold in two.

  4. To clench (one's fist).

  5. To duplicate; repeat.

  6. To turn (an enemy spy) into a double agent.

  7. Baseball

    1. To cause the scoring of (a run) by hitting a two-base hit.

    2. To advance or score (a runner) by hitting a two-base hit.

  8. Baseball To put out (a runner) as the second part of a double play.

  9. Games To challenge (an opponent's bid) with a double in bridge.

  10. Music To duplicate (another part or voice) an octave higher or lower or in unison.

  11. Nautical To sail around: double a cape.

v.   intr.

  1. To be increased twofold: The debt soon doubled.

  2. To turn sharply or all the way around; reverse one's course: had to double back to touch the missed base.

  3. To serve in an additional capacity: a frying pan that doubles as a pie tin; a conductor who doubles as a pianist.

  4. To replace an actor in the actor's absence or in a certain scene.

  5. Baseball To hit a two-base hit.

  6. Games To announce a double in bridge.

adv.  

  1. To twice the amount or extent; doubly: paid double for the customized car.

  2. Two together; in pairs: sleeping double.

  3. In two: bent double.

Phrasal Verb(s):
double up

  1. To bend suddenly, as in pain or laughter.

  2. To share accommodations meant for one person.


Idiom(s):
on/at the double

  1. Immediately.

  2. In double time.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin duplus; see dwo- in Indo-European roots.]
dou'ble·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
double

  1. n.
    a drink consisting of two servings of liquor. : Sam usually has two doubles on the way home.

  2. Go to double saw(buck). :
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

double 
c.1225, from O.Fr. duble, from L. duplus "twofold," from duo "two" + -plus "fold." Verb meaning "to work as, in addition to one's regular job" is c.1920, circus slang, from performers who also played in the band. Double-header is first recorded 1869, Amer.Eng., originally a kind of fireworks or a railway train pulled by two engines; baseball sense is c.1890. Double Dutch "gibberish" is attested from 1864 (High Dutch for "incomprehensible language" is recorded from 1789). Double agent is first attested 1935; double date is from 1931. Double-take and double talk both first attested 1938. Military double time (1833) was originally 130 steps per minute; in modern U.S. Army 180 steps of 36 inches in a minute.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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