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twin

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twin

1  [twin] ,noun, adjective, verb, twinned, twin⋅ning.
Use twin in a Sentence
–noun
1. either of two children or animals brought forth at a birth.
2. either of two persons or things closely related to or closely resembling each other.
3. twin bed.
4. Also called twin room. a type of hotel accommodation with twin beds, for occupancy by two persons. Compare double (def. 13).
5. Also called hemitrope. Crystallography. a compound crystal consisting of two or more parts or crystals definitely oriented each to the other; macle.
6. Twins, Astronomy, Astrology. the constellation or sign of Gemini.
–adjective
7. being a twin or twins: twin sisters.
8. being two persons or things closely related to or closely resembling each other.
9. being one of a pair; identical: a twin bracelet; a twin peak.
10. consisting of two similar parts or elements joined or connected: a twin vase.
11. Botany, Zoology. occurring in pairs; didymous.
12. Crystallography. of the nature of a twin; hemitrope.
13. twofold or double.
–verb (used with object)
14. to bring together in close relationship; pair; couple.
15. to furnish a counterpart to or a replica of; match.
16. Informal. to divide or convert into two, parts, similar items, etc.: The old movie palace will be twinned, making two smaller theaters.
17. Informal. to link or combine with: The new grocery store is twinned with a restaurant.
18. Crystallography. to form into a twin.
19. Obsolete. to give birth to as twins.
–verb (used without object)
20. to give birth to twins.
21. to be paired or coupled.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE twinn (adj.), getwinn (n. and adj.); akin to OFris twīne, ON tvinnr double, Goth twaihnai
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twin

2  [twin] ,
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object), twinned, twin⋅ning. Scot.
twine 2 .

twine

2  [twahyn] ,
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object), twined, twin⋅ing. Scot.
to separate; part.
Also, twin.

Origin:
1175–1225; late ME twinen, var. of earlier twinnen, deriv. of twin twin 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To twin
twin   (twĭn)   
n.  

  1. One of two offspring born at the same birth.

  2. One of two identical or similar people, animals, or things; a counterpart.

  3. twins Mineralogy Two interwoven crystals that are mirror images of each other.

  4. A twin-size bed.

adj.  

  1. Being two or one of two offspring born at the same birth: twin sisters.

  2. Being two or one of two identical or similar people, animals, or things: twin cities; a twin bed.

  3. Botany Of or relating to structures, such as flowers, that occur in pairs.

  4. Consisting of two identical or similar parts: a twin lamp fixture.

v.   twinned, twin·ning, twins

v.   intr.

    1. To give birth to twins.

    2. Archaic To be one of twin offspring.

  2. To be paired or coupled.

v.   tr.

  1. To pair or couple.

  2. To provide a match or counterpart to.


[Middle English, from Old English twinn, twofold; see dwo- in Indo-European roots.]
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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Word Origin & History

twin  (adj.)
O.E. twinn "consisting of two, twofold, double," probably ultimately from P.Gmc. *twinjaz (cf. O.N. tvinnr, O.Dan. tvinling, Du. tweeling, Ger. zwillung), from PIE *dwisno- (cf. L. bini "two each," Lith. dvynu "twins"), from *dwi- "double," from base *dwo- "two" (see two). The verb meaning "to combine two things closely" is recorded from c.1394. The noun developed from O.E. getwinn "double."

twine  (n.)
O.E. twin "double thread," from P.Gmc. *twizna- (cf. Du. twijn, Low Ger. twern, Ger. zwirn "twine, thread"), from the same root as twin (q.v.). The verb meaning "to twist strands together to form twine" is recorded from c.1275; sense of "to twist around something" (as twine does) is recorded from c.1300.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1twin
Pronunciation: 'twin
Function: adjective
: born with one other or as a pair at one birth twin brother><twin girls>

Main Entry: 2twin
Function: noun
1 : either of two offspring produced at a birth
2 twins pl : a group of twooffspring born at one birth —twin·ship /-"ship/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

twin (twĭn)
n.
One of two offspring born at the same birth. adj.

  1. Being two or one of two offspring born at the same birth.

  2. Consisting of two identical or similar parts; double.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Encyclopedia

twin

either of two young who are simultaneously born from one mother. Twinning, common in many animals, is of two biological kinds: the one-egg (monozygotic), or identical, type and the two-egg (dizygotic), or fraternal, type. The latter type is more usual and can be thought of simply as a litter of two. In humans, psychological studies of sets of identical twins, since they are genetically identical, have provided much otherwise unobtainable information on the relative effects of genetic endowment and environment. See also multiple birth.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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