single
only one in number; one only; unique; sole: a single example.
of, relating to, or suitable for one person only: a single room.
solitary or sole; lone: He was the single survivor.
unmarried or not in a romantic relationship: a single man.
pertaining to the unmarried state: the single life.
of or noting a parent who brings up a child or children alone, without a partner.
of one against one, as combat or fight.
consisting of only one part, element, or member: a single lens.
sincere and undivided: single devotion.
separate, particular, or distinct; individual: Every single one of you must do your best. It's the single most important thing.
uniform; applicable to all: a single safety code for all manufacturers.
(of a bed or bedclothes) twin-size.
(of a flower) having only one set of petals.
British. of standard strength or body, as ale, beer, etc.: Compare double (def. 1).
(of the eye) seeing rightly.
to pick or choose (one) from others (usually followed by out): to single out a fact for special mention.
Baseball.
to cause the advance of (a base runner) by a one-base hit.
to cause (a run) to be scored by a one-base hit (often followed by in or home).
Baseball. to hit a single.
one person or thing; a single one.
an accommodation suitable for one person only, as a hotel room or a table at a restaurant: to reserve a single.
a ticket for a single seat at a theater.
British.
a one-way ticket.
a steam locomotive having one driving wheel on each side.
singles, people who are unmarried or not in a romantic relationship, especially if relatively young: It's not uncommon for singles to feel lonely on Valentine Day.
Baseball.Also called one-base hit. a base hit that enables a batter to reach first base safely.
singles, (used with a singular verb) a match with one player on each side, as a tennis match.
Golf. twosome (def. 4).
Cricket. a hit for which one run is scored.
Informal. a one-dollar bill.
Music.
a phonograph record, CD, or cassette usually having two songs: I probably won't buy the single.
one of the songs recorded on a single: a hit single.
a song released or promoted separately from the rest of the album to which it belongs: A viral video put that single back on the charts.
Often singles .Textiles.
reeled or spun silk that may or may not be thrown.
a one-ply yarn of any fiber that has been drawn and twisted.
Origin of single
1Other words for single
Other words from single
- quasi-single, adjective
- quasi-singly, adverb
- un·sin·gle, adjective
Words that may be confused with single
Words Nearby single
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use single in a sentence
Zocdoc is acting as a unified portal for multiple providers, so that people can sign up with a single, more user-friendly tool rather than wrestle with several different systems at once.
Chicago thinks Zocdoc can help solve its vaccine chaos | Lindsay Muscato | February 12, 2021 | MIT Technology ReviewSix songs, all from a single whale that sang as it swam, were analyzed by seismologists Václav Kuna of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague and John Nábělek of Oregon State University in Corvallis.
Fin whale songs can reveal hidden features of the ocean floor | Carolyn Gramling | February 11, 2021 | Science NewsWe work with a range of outlets including Politico on substantive stories every single day and look forward to having a constructive working relationship.
As the pandemic drags on and more people move out of cities, demand for single-family homes as compared to apartments has gone up.
A 3D Printed House Just Went up on Zillow—for Half the Price of Its Neighbors | Vanessa Bates Ramirez | February 11, 2021 | Singularity HubIdling at 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Williams needs one more to tie and two to overtake Court in the overall tally.
How Serena Williams Could Finally Break The Grand Slam Record | Amy Lundy | February 10, 2021 | FiveThirtyEight
Despite the strong language, however, the neither the JPO nor Lockheed could dispute a single fact in either Daily Beast report.
It is not a decisive war, with a single, signature victory, but a war of attrition.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War | Nancy A. Youssef | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTA single father, he had been living abroad and returned when his mother was diagnosed with cancer.
Everyone at This Dinner Party Has Lost Someone | Samantha Levine | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThey stood in a single row, united by solemn respect as the Liu family remained inside.
In a show about single women, Sex and The City was always in a rush to get to the altar—and with a man there waiting.
Why Singles Should Say ‘I Don’t’ to The Self-Marriage Movement | Tim Teeman | December 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen the whole hunt is hunting up, each single change is made between the whole hunt, and the next bell above it.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing | Richard Duckworth and Fabian StedmanShe apparently prefers to paint single figures of women and young girls, but her works include a variety of subjects.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D. | Clara Erskine ClementBeginning with single twigs and working over them patiently she at length painted whole trees, and later animals.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D. | Clara Erskine ClementLiking for a single colour is a considerably smaller display of mind than an appreciation of the relation of two colours.
Children's Ways | James SullyMy orders ought to have been taken before a single unwounded Officer or man was ferried back aboard ship.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian Hamilton
British Dictionary definitions for single
/ (ˈsɪŋɡəl) /
existing alone; solitary: upon the hill stood a single tower
distinct from other things; unique or individual
composed of one part
designed for one user: a single room; a single bed
(also postpositive) unmarried
connected with the condition of being unmarried: he led a single life
(esp of combat) involving two individuals; one against one
sufficient for one person or thing only: a single portion of food
even one: there wasn't a single person on the beach
(of a flower) having only one set or whorl of petals
determined; single-minded: a single devotion to duty
(of the eye) seeing correctly: to consider something with a single eye
rare honest or sincere; genuine
archaic (of ale, beer, etc) mild in strength
something forming one individual unit
an unmarried person
a gramophone record, CD, or cassette with a short recording, usually of pop music, on it
golf a game between two players
cricket a hit from which one run is scored
British a pound note
US and Canadian a dollar note
See single ticket
(tr usually foll by out) to select from a group of people or things; distinguish by separation: he singled him out for special mention
(tr) to thin out (seedlings)
short for single-foot
Origin of single
1- See also singles
Derived forms of single
- singleness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with single
In addition to the idioms beginning with single
- single file, in
- single out
also see:
- each and every (every single)
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse