twice as large, heavy, strong, etc.; twice as many in size, amount, number, extent, etc.:The workers receive double pay for working on Sundays. He ordered a double whiskey.
made up of two similar parts or members; paired:[before a noun]a double sink.
Furniture suitable for two persons:[usually: before a noun]We rented a double room.
having two meanings; ambiguous:His comment had a double meaning.
[usually: before a noun] hiding something dishonestly; deceitful:He led a double life, working by day and thieving by night.
folded in two layers.
n.
anything that is twice the usual size, amount, strength, etc.: [uncountable]She offered me double for the computer.[countable]He ordered a double of scotch from the bar.
a person who exactly or closely resembles another:[countable]She is the double of her mother.
[countable] a hotel room with two beds or a double bed, for two people.
Show Business a substitute who performs stunts in a movie or TV show that are too hazardous for a star:[countable]a stunt double.
Sport[countable] Also called ˈtwo-ˌbase ˈhit. a hit in baseball that allows the batter to reach second base safely.
Sportdoubles, [uncountable* used with a singular verb] a game or match, as in tennis, in which there are two players on each side:a doubles match.
v.
to (cause to) become double or twice as great; add an equal amount (of): [no object]Our taxes doubled over a one-year period.[~ + object]The landlord doubled our rent.
to fold or bend with one part over another: [~ + object]The mother doubled the sheets and blankets to keep the baby warmer.[~ + up/over + object]She doubled over the sheets and blankets to make the baby warmer.[~ + object + up/over]She doubled them up to keep the baby warmer.
to clench; hold tightly:[~ + object]to double one's fists.
to pair; couple:[~ + object]We doubled partners and began the country dance.
to do a second job in addition to one's primary job; to serve in an additional capacity:[~ + as + object]The director doubles as an actor.
Sport[no object] to hit a double in baseball.
to double-date:[no object]We doubled last week, but this week I want to go out with her alone.
double back, [no obj] to turn back on a course; reverse direction:I doubled back to see if I could find the missing earring.
double up:
[no object] to share quarters planned for only one person or family:You can stay with us; we'll all just double up.
Also, ˈdou•ble ˈo•ver. to (cause to) bend over, as from pain: [no object]As the next wave of pain hit, he doubled over.[~ + object + up/over]The pain doubled him up and left him gasping on the floor.[ ~ + over/up + obj]:A punch like that would double over anyone.
adv.
to twice the amount, extent, etc.; twofold:We paid double for that room.
two together:to sleep double.
Idioms
Idiomsdouble or nothing, a bet in which one either wins twice as much as one has bet or gets nothing.
Idiomson the double, without delay; rapidly:Get up there on the double and report to the commander.
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.
composed of two like parts or members; twofold in form; paired:double doors; a double sink.
Furnitureof, pertaining to, or suitable for two persons:a double room.
twofold in character, meaning, or conduct; dual or ambiguous:a double interpretation.
deceitful; hypocritical; insincere.
(of musical instruments) producing a tone an octave lower than the notes indicate.
duple, as time or rhythm.
folded in two; having one half folded over the other.
Furniture(of a bed or bedclothes) full-size:a double blanket.
[Bot.](of flowers) having many more than the normal number of petals:double petunias; double hollyhocks.
n.
anything that is twofold in size or amount or twice the usual size, quantity, strength, etc.
a duplicate or counterpart; something exactly or closely resembling another:This dress is the double of that. He is the double of his cousin.
Also called double room. a type of hotel accommodation with two beds, or sometimes a double bed, for occupancy by two persons. Cf. twin (def. 4).
a fold or plait.
an alcoholic drink containing twice the usual amount of alcohol.
a sudden backward turn or bend, as of a fox on the run in fox hunting; reversal.
a trick or artifice, as of argument in a formal debate.
a substitute actor or singer ready to take another's place; understudy.
[Motion Pictures, Television.]a substitute who performs feats or actions too hazardous or difficult for a star.
[Baseball.]See two-base hit.
[Mil.]double time.
doubles, (used with a sing. v.) a game or match in which there are two players on each side, as in tennis.
(in bridge or other card games)
a challenge by an opponent that the declarer cannot fulfill the designated contract, increasing the points to be won or lost.
a hand that warrants such a challenge.
[Bridge.]a conventional bid informing one's partner that a player's hand is of a certain strength.
[Bowling.]two strikes in succession:He needed a double in the tenth frame to win.
See daily double.
any of certain feasts in the Roman Catholic Church, marked by a doubled antiphon and taking precedence over lesser feasts.
[Music. Rare.]a variation.
a former coin of France, the sixth part of a sol, issued in silver in the 14th century, later made of copper.
at the double, [Brit. Informal.]on the double.
on the double, [Informal.]
without delay; rapidly:The fire engines came on the double.
British Termsin double time, as marching troops.
v.t.
to make double or twice as great; to add an equal amount to:The baby doubled its weight in a year.
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.
to clench:He doubled his fists.
to be or have twice as much as:Income doubled expenditure.
[Naut.]
to sail around (a projecting area of land):to double Cape Horn.
to add a new layer of planking or ceiling to (an old wooden hull).
to pair; couple:The players were doubled for the tournament.
[Music.]to reduplicate by means of a tone in another part, either at the unison or at an octave above or below.
(in bridge and other card games)
to challenge (the bid of an opponent) by making a call that increases the value of tricks to be won or lost.
to challenge the bid of (an opponent):He doubled me into game.
[Baseball.]
to cause the advance of (a base runner) by a two-base hit:He doubled him to third.
to cause (a run) to be scored by a two-base hit (often fol. by in):He doubled in the winning run.
to put out (a base runner) as the second out of a double play (often fol. by up).
v.i.
to become double:My money doubled in three years.
to bend or fold (often fol. by up or over):to double over with pain.
to turn back on a course or reverse direction (often fol. by back):He doubled back by another road and surprised us.
[Mil.]to march at the double-time pace.
to serve in two capacities or in an additional capacity:She doubles as producer and director.
to act as a double in a play, motion picture, or the like.
[Music.]to play an instrument besides one's regular instrument (usually followed by on):The saxophonist doubles on drums.
(in bridge and other card games) to double the bid of an opponent.
[Baseball.]to make a two-base hit.
to double-date.
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.
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.
double up:
to share quarters planned for only one person or family:Because of the room shortage, we had to double up.
to bend over, as from pain:He doubled up in agony.
adv.
to twice the amount, number, extent, etc.; twofold; doubly.
two together:There are only a few beds, so some of the children will have to sleep double for the night.
Latin duplus, equivalent. to du(o) two + -plus -fold
as much again in size, strength, number, etc: a double portion
composed of two equal or similar parts; in a pair; twofold: a double egg cup
designed for two users: a double room
folded in two; composed of two layers: double paper
stooping; bent over
having two aspects or existing in two different ways; ambiguous: a double meaning
false, deceitful, or hypocritical: a double life
(of flowers) having more than the normal number of petals
(of an instrument) sounding an octave lower than the pitch indicated by the notation: a double bass
(of time) duple, usually accompanied by the direction alla breve
twice over; twofold
two together; two at a time (esp in the phrase see double)
twice the number, amount, size, etc
a double measure of spirits, such as whisky or brandy
a duplicate or counterpart, esp a person who closely resembles another; understudy
a wraith or ghostly apparition that is the exact counterpart of a living person; doppelgänger
a sharp turn, esp a return on one's own tracks
a call that increases certain scoring points if the last preceding bid becomes the contract
a strike in which the object ball is struck so as to make it rebound against the cushion to an opposite pocket
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
the narrow outermost ring on a dartboard
a hit on this ring
at the double, on the double ⇒ at twice normal marching speed
quickly or immediately
to make or become twice as much
to bend or fold (material, a bandage, etc)
(transitive) sometimes followed byup: to clench (a fist)
(tr; often followed by together or up)to join or couple: he doubled up the team
(transitive)to repeat exactly; copy
(intransitive)to play two parts or serve two roles
to sail around (a headland or other point)
to duplicate (a voice or instrumental part) either in unison or at the octave above or below it
(intransitive) usually followed byon: to be capable of performing (upon an instrument additional to one's normal one): the third trumpeter doubles on cornet
to make a call that will double certain scoring points if the preceding bid becomes the contract
to cause (a ball) to rebound or (of a ball) to rebound from a cushion across or up or down the table
(intransitive) followed byfor: to act as substitute (for an actor or actress)
(intransitive)to go or march at twice the normal speed
Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French, from Latin duplus twofold, from duo two + -plus-foldˈdoubler
'double over' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):