double

1 /'dVbFl/ adjective

1 OF TWO PARTS consisting of two parts that are similar or exactly the same: You can't park on double yellow lines.

2 double l/s/9 etc BrE spoken used when you are spelling a word or telling someone a number, to show that a letter or number is repeated: My number is 869 34 double 2. | That's Robbins with a double `b'.

3 TWICE AS BIG twice as big, twice as much, or twice as many as usual, or twice as big, much, or many as something else: Leave the dough in a warm place to rise until it is double in bulk. | I'll have a double whisky please.

4 FOR TWO PEOPLE made to be used by two people: a double room

—compare single 1 (4)

5 WITH TWO DIFFERENT USES combining two different uses or qualities; dual: a double-action corkscrew | the double advantage of money and a good education

6 DECEIVING seeming to be one thing while actually being another; deceiving: There was a double meaning in Sybil's words. | lead a double life (=pretend to be one type of person but really be another)

7 FLOWER a double flower has more than the usual number of petals

—see also: doubly, double figures figure 1 (1b) 2 noun

1 TWICE THE SIZE (C, U) something that is twice the size, quantity, value, or strength of something else: Scotch and water, please - make it a double. | “What did they offer you?” “Ten thousand.” “I'll give you double.”

2 SIMILAR PERSON (C) someone who looks very much like someone else: Caroline's her mother's double.

3 IN FILMS (C) an actor who takes the place of another actor in a film because the acting involves something very dangerous: a stunt double

4 at the double BrE on the double AmE very quickly and without any delay: The firemen came around on the double.

5 TENNIS doubles (U) a game played between two pairs of players: the men's doubles

—compare singles single 2 (3), —see also: mixed doubles

6 double or nothing AmE double or quits BrE a decision in a game when you must decide to do something that will either win you twice as much money or make you lose it all

7 IN RACING (C) a bet 2 (1) on the results of two races in which any money won on the first race is risked on the second

8 A THROW (C) a throw in the game of darts (dart2 (2)) that hits a point between the two outer circles on the board, and has twice the usual value

9 A HIT (C) a hit which allows the batter 2 (3) in baseball to reach second base 1 (8)

3 verb

1 (I, T) to become twice as much or as many, or to make something twice as big: Unemployment more than doubled in 1921. | The Federal government has doubled its tax on liquor.

2 also double sth over (T) to fold something in half: Take a sheet of paper and double it.

3 (I) if a batter 2 (3) in a game of baseball doubles, he hits the ball far enough to get to second base 1 (8)

4 double your fists AmE to curl your fingers tightly to make fists ready to fight

double as sb/sth phrasal verb (T) to have a second use, job or purpose as something else: Our local police chief doubles as the fire chief. double back phrasal verb (I) to turn around and go back the way you have come: I doubled back along the main highway to LA. double up phrasal verb

1 also double over (intransitive, transitive double someone up) to suddenly bend at the waist because you are laughing too much or are in pain and cannot stand up: Emilio doubled over, grabbing his leg. | be doubled up/over with: We leant against the table, doubled over with laughter.

2 (I) to share something, especially a bedroom: There aren't enough text-books. Can you double up?

(+ with sb): You'll have to double up with Susie while Aunt Clara is visiting. 4 adverb

1 see double to have something wrong with your eyes so that you see two things instead of one: I was feeling dizzy and seeing double.

2 be bent double to be bent over a long way: The trees were almost bent double in the wind.

3 fold sth double to fold something in half to make it twice as thick

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