- double
-
—doubleness, n. —doubler, n.adj.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. Bot. (of flowers) having many more than the normal number of petals: double petunias; double hollyhocks.n.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. Cf. 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. Motion Pictures, Television. a substitute who performs feats or actions too hazardous or difficult for a star.20. Baseball. See two-base hit.21. Mil. double time.22. doubles, (used with a sing. v.) 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. See 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.30. at the double, Brit. Informal. on the double.31. on the double, Informal.a. without delay; rapidly: The fire engines came on the double.b. in double time, as marching troops.v.t.32. to make double or twice as great; to add an equal amount to: The baby doubled its weight in a year.33. 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.34. to clench: He doubled his fists.35. to be or have twice as much as: Income doubled expenditure.36. Naut.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).37. to pair; couple: The players were doubled for the tournament.38. Music. to reduplicate by means of a tone in another part, either at the unison or at an octave above or below.39. (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.40. 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).v.i.41. to become double: My money doubled in three years.42. to bend or fold (often fol. by up or over): to double over with pain.43. to turn back on a course or reverse direction (often fol. by back): He doubled back by another road and surprised us.44. Mil. to march at the double-time pace.45. to serve in two capacities or in an additional capacity: She doubles as producer and director.46. to act as a double in a play, motion picture, or the like.47. Music. to play an instrument besides one's regular instrument (usually followed by on): The saxophonist doubles on drums.48. (in bridge and other card games) to double the bid of an opponent.49. Baseball. to make a two-base hit.50. to double-date.51. 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.52. 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.53. 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.adv.54. to twice the amount, number, extent, etc.; twofold; doubly.55. two together: There are only a few beds, so some of the children will have to sleep double for the night.[1175-1225; ME < OF < L duplus, equiv. to du(o) TWO + -plus -FOLD]
* * *
(as used in expressions)double aspect theory* * *
Universalium. 2010.
