double
adj usually prenominal
1 as much again in size, strength, number, etc.
a double portion
2 composed of two equal or similar parts; in a pair; twofold
a double egg cup
3 designed for two users
a double room
4 folded in two; composed of two layers
double paper
6 having two aspects or existing in two different ways; ambiguous
a double meaning
7 false, deceitful, or hypocritical
a double life
8 (of flowers) having more than the normal number of petals
a (of a root) being one of two equal roots of a polynomial equation
b (of an integral) having an integrand containing two independent variables requiring two integrations, in each of which one variable is kept constant
a (of an instrument) sounding an octave lower than the pitch indicated by the notation
a double bass
b (of time) duple, usually accompanied by the direction alla breve
adv
12 two together; two at a time (esp. in the phrase see double)
n
13 twice the number, amount, size, etc.
14 a double measure of spirits, such as whisky or brandy
15 a duplicate or counterpart, esp. a person who closely resembles another; understudy
16 a wraith or ghostly apparition that is the exact counterpart of a living person; doppelgänger
17 a sharp turn, esp. a return on one's own tracks
18 an evasive shift or artifice; trick
19 an actor who plays two parts in one play
20 (Bridge) a call that increases certain scoring points if the last preceding bid becomes the contract
21 (Billiards, etc.) a strike in which the object ball is struck so as to make it rebound against the cushion to an opposite pocket
22 a bet on two horses in different races in which any winnings from the horse in the first race are placed on the horse in the later race
23 often cap (Chiefly R.C. Church) one of the higher-ranking feasts on which the antiphons are recited both before and after the psalms
24 (Music) an ornamented variation in 16th and 17th century music
25 (Also called)
double time a pace of twice the normal marching speed
26 (Tennis) See →
double fault
a the narrow outermost ring on a dartboard
a at twice normal marching speed
b quickly or immediately
vb
29 to make or become twice as much
30 to bend or fold (material, a bandage, etc.)
31 tr; sometimes foll by: up to clench (a fist)
32 tr; often foll by: together or up to join or couple
he doubled up the team
33 tr to repeat exactly; copy
34 intr to play two parts or serve two roles
35 intr to turn sharply; follow a winding course
36 (Nautical) to sail around (a headland or other point)
a to duplicate (a voice or instrumental part) either in unison or at the octave above or below it
b intr; usually foll by: on to be capable of performing (upon an instrument additional to one's normal one)
the third trumpeter doubles on cornet
38 (Bridge) to make a call that will double certain scoring points if the preceding bid becomes the contract
39 (Billiards, etc.) to cause (a ball) to rebound or (of a ball) to rebound from a cushion across or up or down the table
a to cause two pawns of the same colour to be on the same file
b to place both rooks of the same colour on the same rank or the same file
41 intr; foll by: for to act as substitute (for an actor or actress)
42 intr to go or march at twice the normal speed,
(See also)
→
double back →
doubles →
double up (C13: from Old French, from Latin duplus twofold, from duo two + -plus -fold) ♦
doubleness n ♦
doubler n
body double
n (Films) a person who substitutes for a star for the filming of a scene that involves shots of the body rather than the face
daily double
n (Horse racing) a single bet on the winners of two named races in any one day's racing
double-acting
adj
1 (of a reciprocating engine or pump) having a piston or pistons that are pressurized alternately on opposite sides
Compare →
single-acting
2 (of a hinge, door, etc.) having complementary actions in opposed directions
double agent
n a spy employed by two mutually antagonistic countries, companies, etc.
double-aspect theory
n (Philosophy) a monistic theory that holds that mind and body are not distinct substances but merely different aspects of a single substance
double back
vb intr, adv to go back in the opposite direction (esp. in the phrase to double back on one's tracks)
double-bank
vb (Austral. and N.Z.)
informal to carry a second person on (a horse, bicycle, etc.), (Also)
dub
double bar
n (Music) a symbol, consisting of two ordinary bar lines or a single heavy one, that marks the end of a composition or a section within it
double-barrelled , (U.S.) double-barreled
adj
1 (of a gun) having two barrels
2 extremely forceful or vehement
3 (Brit) (of a surname) having hyphenated parts
4 serving two purposes; ambiguous
a double-barrelled remark
double bass
n
1 (Also called (U.S.))
bass viol a stringed instrument, the largest and lowest member of the violin family. Range: almost three octaves upwards from E in the space between the fourth and fifth leger lines below the bass staff. It is normally bowed in classical music, but it is very common in a jazz or dance band, where it is practically always played pizzicato, (Informal name)
bass fiddle
adj
♦
double-bass
2 of or relating to an instrument whose pitch lies below that regarded as the bass; contrabass
double bassoon
n (Music) the lowest and largest instrument in the oboe class; contrabassoon
double bill
n a programme or event with two main items
double bind
n a situation of conflict from which there is no escape; unresolvable dilemma
double-blind
adj of or relating to an experiment to discover reactions to certain commodities, drugs, etc., in which neither the experimenters nor the subjects know the particulars of the test items during the experiments
Compare →
single-blind
double boiler
n the U.S. and Canadian name for →
double saucepan
double bond
n a type of chemical bond consisting of two covalent bonds linking two atoms in a molecule
double-breasted
adj (of a garment) having overlapping fronts such as to give a double thickness of cloth
double bridle
n a bridle with four reins coming from a bit with two rings on each side
double-check
vb
1 to check twice or again; verify
n
♦
double check
2 a second examination or verification
3 (Chess) a simultaneous check from two pieces brought about by moving one piece to give check and thereby revealing a second check from another piece
double chin
n a fold of fat under the chin
♦
double-chinned adj
double concerto
n a concerto for two solo instruments
double cream
n thick cream with a high fat-content
double cross
n a technique for producing hybrid stock, esp. seed for cereal crops, by crossing the hybrids between two different pairs of inbred lines
double-cross
vb
1 tr to cheat or betray
n
2 the act or an instance of double-crossing; betrayal
♦
double-crosser n
double dagger
n a character (<ddagger>) used in printing to indicate a cross reference, esp. to a footnote, (Also called)
diesis, double obelisk
double-dealing
n
a action characterized by treachery or deceit
b (as modifier)
double-dealing treachery
♦
double-dealer n
double-decker
n
1 (Chiefly Brit) a bus with two passenger decks
a a thing or structure having two decks, layers, etc.
b (as modifier)
a double-decker sandwich
double-declutch
vb intr (Brit) to change to a lower gear in a motor vehicle by first placing the gear lever into the neutral position before engaging the desired gear, at the same time releasing the clutch pedal and increasing the engine speed, (U.S. term)
double-clutch
double decomposition
n a chemical reaction between two compounds that results in the interchange of one part of each to form two different compounds, as in AgNO3 + KI <arrow> AgI + KNO3, (Also called)
metathesis
double density (Computing)
n
1 a disk with more than the normal capacity for storage
adj
2 (of a floppy disk) having a storage capacity of 360K or 720K, which is double the normal amount
double digging
n (Brit) a method of digging ground in a series of trenches two spits deep, mixing the soil of the bottom spit with manure, and then transferring the soil from the top spit of one trench to the top spit of the preceding one
double-dotted
adj (Music)
1 (of a note) increased to one and three quarters of its original time value by the addition of two dots
2 (of a rhythm) characterized by pairs of notes in which the first one, lengthened by two dots, makes up seven eighths of the time value of the pair
double drummer
n (Austral)
informal a type of cicada
double-dumped
adj (N.Z) (of a wool bale) compressed, with two bales occupying the volume-equivalent of one ordinary bale
double Dutch
n (Brit)
informal incomprehensible talk; gibberish
double-dyed
adj
1 confirmed; inveterate
a double-dyed villain
double eagle
n a former U.S. gold coin, having a nominal value of 20 dollars
double-edged
adj
1 acting in two ways; having a dual effect
a double-edged law
2 (of a remark, argument, etc.) having two possible interpretations, esp. applicable both for and against or being really malicious though apparently innocuous
3 (of a sword, knife, etc.) having a cutting edge on either side of the blade
double entendre (French)
n
1 a word, phrase, etc., that can be interpreted in two ways, esp. one having one meaning that is indelicate
2 the type of humour that depends upon such ambiguity
(C17: from obsolete French: double meaning)
double entry
n
a a book-keeping system in which any commercial transaction is entered as a debit in one account and as a credit in another
Compare →
single entry
b (as modifier)
double-entry book-keeping
double exposure
n
1 the act or process of recording two superimposed images on a photographic medium, usually done intentionally to produce a special effect
2 the photograph resulting from such an act
double-faced
adj
1 (of textiles) having a finished nap on each side; reversible
double fault (Tennis)
n
1 the serving of two faults in succession, thereby losing a point
vb
♦
double-fault
2 intr to serve a double fault
double feature
n (Films) a programme showing two full-length films, (Informal name (U.S.))
twin bill
double first
n (Brit) a first-class honours degree in two subjects
double flat
n
a an accidental that lowers the pitch of the following note two semitones., (Usual symbol)
<dflat>
b a note affected by this accidental
adj
♦
double-flat
2 postpositive denoting a note of a given letter name lowered in pitch by two semitones
double glazing
n
1 two panes of glass in a window, fitted to reduce the transmission of heat, sound, etc.
2 the fitting of glass in such a manner
double Gloucester
n a type of smooth orange-red cheese of mild flavour
double-header
n
1 a train drawn by two locomotives coupled together to provide extra power
2 (Also called)
twin bill (Sport) (U.S. and Canadian) two games played consecutively by the same teams or by two different teams
3 (Austral. and N.Z.)
informal a coin with the impression of a head on each side
4 (Austral)
informal a double ice-cream cone
double-helical gear
n another name for →
herringbone gear
double helix
n (Biochem) the form of the molecular structure of DNA, consisting of two helical polynucleotide chains linked by hydrogen bonds and coiled around the same axis
double-hung
adj (of a window) having two vertical sashes, the upper one sliding in grooves outside those of the lower
double indemnity
n (U.S. and Canadian) (in life assurance policies) a clause providing for the payment of double the policy's face value in the event of the policyholder's accidental death
double jeopardy
n (Chiefly U.S) the act of prosecuting a defendant a second time for an offence for which he has already been tried
double-jointed
adj having unusually flexible joints permitting an abnormal degree of motion of the parts
double knit
n
a a knitted material made on two sets of needles that produce a double thickness joined with interlocking stitches
b (as modifier)
a double-knit fabric
double knitting
n
a a widely used medium thickness of knitting wool
b (as modifier)
double-knitting wool
double-minded
adj
Rare undecided; vacillating
♦
double-mindedness n
double negation
n (Logic) the principle that a statement is equivalent to the denial of its negation, as it is not the case that John is not here meaning John is here
double negative
n a syntactic construction, often considered ungrammatical in standard Modern English, in which two negatives are used where one is needed, as in I wouldn't never have believed it
There are two contexts where double negatives are found. An adjective with negative force is often used with a negative in order to express a nuance of meaning somewhere between the positive and the negative: he was a not infrequent visitor; it is not an uncommon sight. Two negatives are also found together where they reinforce each other rather than conflict: he never went back, not even to collect his belongings. These two uses of what is technically a double negative are acceptable. A third case, illustrated by I shouldn't wonder if it didn't rain today, has the force of a weak positive statement (I expect it to rain today) and is common in informal English
double obelisk
n another name for →
double dagger
double or quits
n a game, throw, toss, etc., to decide whether the stake due is to be doubled or cancelled
double-park
vb to park (a car or other vehicle) alongside or directly opposite another already parked by the roadside, thereby causing an obstruction
double play
n (Baseball) a play in which two runners are put out
double pneumonia
n pneumonia affecting both lungs
double printing
n (Photog) the exposure of the same positive photographic emulsion to two or more negatives, resulting in the superimposition of multiple images after development
double-quick
adj
2 in a very quick or rapid manner
double-reed
adj relating to or denoting a wind instrument in which the sounds are produced by air passing over two reeds that vibrate against each other
double refraction
n the splitting of a ray of unpolarized light into two unequally refracted rays polarized in mutually perpendicular planes, (Also called)
birefringence
double salt
n a solid solution of two simple salts formed by crystallizing a solution of the two salts
Compare →
complex salt
double saucepan
n (Brit) a cooking utensil consisting of two saucepans, one fitting inside the other. The bottom saucepan contains water that, while boiling, gently heats food in the upper pan, (U.S. and Canadian name)
double boiler
double scull
n (Rowing) a racing shell in which two scullers sit one behind the other and pull two oars each
Compare →
pair-oar
double sharp
n
a an accidental that raises the pitch of the following note by two semitones., (Usual symbol)
<dsharp>
b a note affected by this accidental
adj
2 immediately postpositive denoting a note of a given letter name raised in pitch by two semitones
double-space
vb to type (copy) with a full space between lines
double spread
n (Printing) two facing pages of a publication treated as a single unit
double standard
n a set of principles that allows greater freedom to one person or group than to another
double star
n two stars, appearing close together when viewed through a telescope; either physically associated (see binary star) or not associated (optical double star)
double-stop
vb , -stops, -stopping, -stopped to play (two notes or parts) simultaneously on a violin or related instrument by drawing the bow over two strings
double-system sound recording
n (Films) a system in which picture and sound are taken simultaneously and the sound is recorded separately on magnetic tape
double tackle
n a lifting or pulling tackle in which a rope is passed around the twin pulleys of a pair of pulley blocks in sequence
double take
n (esp. in comedy) a delayed reaction by a person to a remark, situation, etc.
double talk
n
1 rapid speech with a mixture of nonsense syllables and real words; gibberish
2 empty, deceptive, or ambiguous talk, esp. by politicians
double time
n
1 a doubled wage rate, paid for working on public holidays, etc.
a a time twice as fast as an earlier section
3 a slow running pace, keeping in step
4 (U.S. army) a fast march of 180 paces to the minute
vb
♦
double-time
5 to move or cause to move in double time
double-tongue
vb , -tongues, -tonguing, -tongued (Music) to play (fast staccato passages) on a wind instrument by rapid obstruction and uncovering of the air passage through the lips with the tongue
Compare →
single-tongue →
triple-tongue
♦
double tonguing n
double-tongued
adj deceitful or hypocritical in speech
double top
n (Darts) a score of double 20
double up
vb adv
1 to bend or cause to bend in two
he doubled up with the pain
2 intr to share a room or bed designed for one person, family, etc.
3 intr (Brit) to use the winnings from one bet as the stake for another, (U.S. and Canadian term)
parlay
optical double star
n two stars that appear close together when viewed through a telescope but are not physically associated and are often separated by a great distance
Compare →
binary star