double (double)

adjective

• 1consisting of two equal, identical, or similar parts or things: double doors
• having twice the usual size, quantity, or strength: she sipped a double brandy
• designed to be used by two people: a double bed
• having two different roles or interpretations, especially in order to deceive or confuse: the furtive double life of a terrorist
• (of a letter or number) occurring twice in succession: ‘otter’ is spelled with a double t
• (of a flower) having more than one circle of petals: large double blooms
• (of a domino) having the same number of pips on each half.

• 2 Music lower in pitch by an octave.

predeterminer

• twice as much or as many: the jail now houses almost double the number of prisoners it was designed for I’ll pay double what I paid last time

adverb

• at or to twice the amount or extent: you have to be careful, and this counts double for older people

noun

• 1a thing which is twice as large as usual or is made up of two standard units or things: join the two sleeping bags together to make a double
• a double measure of spirits: ‘Two whiskies, and make it doubles please’
• a system of betting in which the winnings and stake from the first bet are transferred to a second.
• Bridge a call that will increase the penalty points won by the defenders if the declarer fails to make the contract.
• Darts a hit on the narrow ring enclosed by the two outer circles of a dartboard, scoring double: you must finish the game on a double

• 2a person who looks exactly like another: you could pass yourself off as his double
• a person who stands in for an actor in a film.
• an apparition of a living person: she had seen her husband’s double

• 3 (doubles) (especially in tennis and badminton) a game or competition involving sides made up of two players: the semi-finals of the doubles

• 4 Bell-ringing a system of change-ringing using five bells, with two pairs changing places each time.

• 5a pair of victories in the same sport in two different competitions: Manchester United won the double twice
• British a home and away victory over the same team in one season or competition: Oldham did the double over Forest last season

pronoun

• a number or amount which is twice as large as a contrasting or usual number or amount: he paid double and had a room all to himself

verb

• 1 [no object] become twice as much or as many: profits doubled in one year
• [with object] make twice as much or as many of (something): Clare doubled her income overnight
• [with object] archaic amount to twice as much as: thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty
• (double up) use the winnings from a bet as stake for another bet.
• Military move at twice the usual speed; run: I doubled across the deck to join the others
• (double up) share a room: ‘Where’s Jimmy going to sleep?’ ‘He can double up with Bertie.’
• Bridge make a call increasing the value of the penalty points to be scored on an opponent’s bid if it wins the auction and is not fulfilled: West’s failure to double 4♥ [no object]: it may be right for East to double

• 2 [with object] fold or bend (paper, cloth, or other material) over on itself: the muslin is doubled and then laid in a sieve over the bowl
• [no object] (double up) bend over or curl up, typically because one is overcome with pain or mirth: Billy started to double up with laughter
• clench (a fist): he had one arm around her and the other fist doubled
• [no object] (usually double back) go back in the direction one has come: he had to double back to collect them
• Snooker pot (a ball) by making it rebound off a cushion.
• Nautical sail round (a headland): we struck out seaward to double the headland of the cape

• 3 [no object] be used in or play another, different role: a laser printer doubles as a photocopier
• [with object] (of an actor) play (two parts) in the same piece.
• Music play two or more musical instruments.
• [with object] Music add the same note in a higher or lower octave to (a note).