double Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a base hit on which the batter stops safely at second base
    two-base hit; two-baser; two-bagger.
    • he hit a double to deep centerfield
  2. noun a stand-in for movie stars to perform dangerous stunts
    stunt man; stunt woman.
    • his first job in Hollywood was as a double for Clark Gable
  3. noun someone who closely resembles a famous person (especially an actor)
    image; look-alike.
    • he could be Gingrich's double
    • she's the very image of her mother
  4. noun a quantity that is twice as great as another
    • 36 is the double of 18
  5. noun raising the stakes in a card game by a factor of 2
    doubling.
    • I decided his double was a bluff
  6. verb increase twofold
    duplicate.
    • The population doubled within 50 years
  7. verb hit a two-base hit
  8. verb bend over or curl up, usually with laughter or pain
    double up; double over.
    • He doubled and vomited violently
  9. verb do double duty; serve two purposes or have two functions
    • She doubles as his wife and secretary
  10. verb bridge: make a demand for (a card or suit)
  11. verb make or do or perform again
    duplicate; repeat; replicate; reduplicate.
    • He could never replicate his brilliant performance of the magic trick
  12. adjective satellite having more than one decidedly dissimilar aspects or qualities; public preaching and private influence"- R.W.Emerson
    treble; twofold; two-fold; three-fold; threefold; dual.
    • a double (or dual) role for an actor
    • the office of a clergyman is twofold
    • every episode has its double and treble meaning"-Frederick Harrison
  13. adjective satellite consisting of or involving two parts or components usually in pairs
    dual; duple.
    • an egg with a double yolk
    • a double (binary) star
    • double doors
    • dual controls for pilot and copilot
    • duple (or double) time consists of two (or a multiple of two) beats to a measure
  14. adjective satellite twice as great or many
    twofold; two-fold; doubled.
    • ate a double portion
    • the dose is doubled
    • a twofold increase
  15. 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
  16. adjective used of homologous chromosomes associated in pairs in synapsis
    bivalent.
  17. adjective satellite large enough for two
    • a double bed
    • a double room
  18. adjective satellite having two meanings with intent to deceive
    forked.
    • a sly double meaning
    • spoke with forked tongue
  19. adverb downward and forward
    • he was bent double with pain
  20. adverb two together
    • some people sleep better double
  21. adverb to double the degree
    doubly; twice.
    • she was doubly rewarded
    • his eyes were double bright

WordNet

Dou"ble adjective
Etymology
OE. doble, duble, double, OF. doble, duble, double, F. double, fr. L. duplus, fr. the root of duo two, and perh. that of plenus full; akin to Gr. double. See Two, and Full, and cf. Diploma, Duple.
Definitions
  1. Twofold; multiplied by two; increased by its equivalent; made twice as large or as much, etc.
    Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 2 Kings ii. 9.
    Darkness and tempest make a double night. Dryden.
  2. Being in pairs; presenting two of a kind, or two in a set together; coupled.
    [Let] The swan, on still St. Mary's lake, Float double, swan and shadow. Wordsworth.
  3. Divided into two; acting two parts, one openly and the other secretly; equivocal; deceitful; insincere.
    With a double heart do they speak. Ps. xii. 2.
  4. (Bot.) Having the petals in a flower considerably increased beyond the natural number, usually as the result of cultivation and the expense of the stamens, or stamens and pistils. The white water lily and some other plants have their blossoms naturally double. ✍ Double is often used as the first part of a compound word, generally denoting two ways, or twice the number, quantity, force, etc., twofold, or having two.
Dou"ble adverb
Definitions
  1. Twice; doubly.
    I was double their age. Swift.
Dou"ble transitive verb
Etymology
OE. doblen, dublen, doublen, F. doubler, fr. L. duplare, fr. duplus. See Double, a.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Doubled ; present participle & verbal noun Doubling
Definitions
  1. To increase by adding an equal number, quantity, length, value, or the like; multiply by two; to double a sum of money; to double a number, or length.
    Double six thousand, and then treble that. Shak.
  2. To make of two thicknesses or folds by turning or bending together in the middle; to fold one part upon another part of; as, to double the leaf of a book, and the like; to clinch, as the fist; -- often followed by up; as, to double up a sheet of paper or cloth. also double over Prior.
    Then the old man Was wroth, and doubled up his hands. Tennyson.
  3. To be the double of; to exceed by twofold; to contain or be worth twice as much as.
    Thus reënforced, against the adverse fleet, Still doubling ours, brave Rupert leads the way. Dryden.
  4. To pass around or by; to march or sail round, so as to reverse the direction of motion.
    Sailing along the coast, the doubled the promontory of Carthage. Knolles.
  5. (Mil.) To unite, as ranks or files, so as to form one from each two.
Dou"ble intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be increased to twice the sum, number, quantity, length, or value; to increase or grow to twice as much.
    'T is observed in particular nations, that within the space of three hundred years, notwithstanding all casualties, the number of men doubles. T. Burnet.
  2. To return upon one's track; to turn and go back over the same ground, or in an opposite direction.
    Doubling and turning like a hunted hare. Dryden.
    Doubling and doubling with laborious walk. Wordsworth.
  3. To play tricks; to use sleights; to play false.
    What penalty and danger you accrue, If you be found to double. J. Webster.
  4. (Print.) To set up a word or words a second time by mistake; to make a doublet.
Dou"ble noun
Definitions
  1. Twice as much; twice the number, sum, quantity, length, value, and the like.
    If the thief be found, let him pay double. Ex. xxii. 7.
  2. Among compositors, a doublet (see Doublet,
  3. ); among pressmen, a sheet that is twice pulled, and blurred.
  4. That which is doubled over or together; a doubling; a plait; a fold.
    Rolled up in sevenfold double Of plagues. Marston.
  5. A turn or circuit in running to escape pursues; hence, a trick; a shift; an artifice.
    These men are too well acquainted with the chase to be flung off by any false steps or doubles. Addison.
  6. Something precisely equal or counterpart to another; a counterpart. Hence, a wraith.
    My charming friend . . . has, I am almost sure, a double, who preaches his afternoon sermons for him. Atlantic Monthly.
  7. A player or singer who prepares to take the part of another player in his absence; a substitute.
  8. Double beer; strong beer.
  9. (Eccl.) A feast in which the antiphon is doubled, hat is, said twice, before and after the Psalms, instead of only half being said, as in simple feasts. Shipley.
  10. (Lawn Tennis) A game between two pairs of players; as, a first prize for doubles.
  11. (Mus.) An old term for a variation, as in Bach's Suites.

Webster 1913