double

/ˈdʌbəl/

/ˈdʌbəl/

Other forms: doubled; doubles

Something is double if it has two parts or if there are two versions of it. If you order a double dip ice cream cone, there will be two scoops of ice cream for you to lick.

If you fall while you're roller skating and end up with a double arm fracture, it means you broke your arm in two places. A joke with a double meaning has two of them, and if you double your tips at the coffee shop by smiling more at customers, you're making twice as much money. In addition to the adjective and verb versions of double, there's the noun: your double is someone who looks exactly like you.

Definitions of double

1. adjective

   consisting of or involving two parts or components usually in pairs
   “an egg with a double yolk”

   “a double (binary) star”

   “double doors”

   “duple (or double) time consists of two (or a multiple of two) beats to a measure”

   synonyms: dual, duple

   multiple

   having or involving or consisting of more than one part or entity or individual
2. adjective

   having more than one decidedly dissimilar aspects or qualities
   “a double (or dual) role for an actor”

   “"every episode has its double and treble meaning"-Frederick Harrison”

   synonyms: dual, three-fold, threefold, treble, two-fold, twofold

   multiple

   having or involving or consisting of more than one part or entity or individual
3. adjective

   having two meanings with intent to deceive
   “a sly double meaning”

   synonyms: forked

   ambiguous, equivocal

   open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead
4. adjective

   twice as great or many
   “ate a double portion”

   “the dose is doubled”

   synonyms: doubled, two-fold, twofold

   multiple

   having or involving or consisting of more than one part or entity or individual
5. adjective

   large enough for two
   “a double bed”

   “a double room”

   synonyms:

   big, large

   above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
6. adjective

   used of homologous chromosomes associated in pairs in synapsis
   synonyms: bivalent
7. adverb

   two together
   “some people sleep better double”
8. adverb

   to double the degree
   “his eyes were double bright”

   synonyms: doubly, twice
9. noun

   a quantity that is twice as great as another
   “36 is the double of 18”

   type of:

   multiple

   the product of a quantity by an integer
10. noun

    raising the stakes in a card game by a factor of 2
    “I decided his double was a bluff”

    synonyms: doubling

    type of:

    raise

    increasing the size of a bet (as in poker)
11. noun

    a base hit on which the batter stops safely at second base
    “he hit a double to deep centerfield”

    synonyms: two-bagger, two-base hit, two-baser

    types:

    line double, line-drive double

    a double resulting from a line drive

    type of:

    base hit, safety

    (baseball) the successful act of striking a baseball in such a way that the batter reaches base safely
12. verb

    increase twofold
    “The population doubled within 50 years”

    synonyms: duplicate

    types:

    redouble

    double again

    geminate

    arrange or combine in pairs

    type of:

    manifold, multiply

    combine or increase by multiplication
13. verb

    do double duty; serve two purposes or have two functions
    “She doubles as his wife and secretary”

    type of:

    function, go, operate, run, work

    perform as expected when applied
14. verb

    hit a two-base hit
    type of:

    hit

    cause to move by striking
15. verb

    make or do or perform again
    synonyms: duplicate, reduplicate, repeat, replicate

    types:

    copy, replicate

    reproduce or make an exact copy of

    recapitulate

    repeat stages of evolutionary development during the embryonic phase of life

    geminate, reduplicate

    form by reduplication

    type of:

    reproduce

    make a copy or equivalent of
16. noun

    a stand-in for movie stars to perform dangerous stunts
    “his first job in Hollywood was as a double for Clark Gable”

    synonyms: stunt man, stunt woman

    type of:

    backup, backup man, fill-in, relief, reliever, stand-in, substitute

    someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult)
17. noun

    someone who closely resembles a famous person (especially an actor)
    “he could be Gingrich's double”

    synonyms: image, look-alike

    types:

    clone, dead ringer, doppelganger, ringer

    a person who is almost identical to another

    type of:

    individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

    a human being
18. verb

    bend over or curl up, usually with laughter or pain
    “He doubled and vomited violently”

    synonyms: double over, double up

    type of:

    bend, flex

    form a curve
19. adverb

    downward and forward
    “he was bent double with pain”
20. verb

    bridge: make a demand for (a card or suit)
    type of:

    bid, call

    make a demand, as for a card or a suit or a show of hands
21. adjective

    used of flowers having more than the usual number of petals in crowded or overlapping arrangements
    “double chrysanthemums have many rows of petals and are usually spherical or hemispherical”

    antonyms:

    single

    used of flowers having usually only one row or whorl of petals