double : Idioms & Phrases

• a mode of bookkeeping in which two entries of every transaction are carried to the ledger, one to the Dr., or left hand, side of one account, and the other to the Cr., or right hand, side of a corresponding account, in order tha the one entry may check the other; sometimes called, from the place of its origin, the Italian method.

Webster 1913

• noun a single bet on two horse races in the same day
  

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• noun a spy who works for two mutually antagonistic countries
  

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• verb retrace one's course
  turn back; backtrack.
  
  • The hikers got into a storm and had to turn back

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• noun notation marking the end of principal parts of a musical composition; two adjacent bar lines
  

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• (Mus.), the largest and lowest-toned instrument in the violin form; the contrabasso or violone.

Webster 1913

• noun largest and lowest member of the violin family
  bass viol; string bass; bass fiddle; contrabass; bull fiddle.
  

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• noun the bassoon that is the largest instrument in the oboe family
  contrabassoon; contrafagotto.
  

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• noun a bed wide enough to accommodate two sleepers
  

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• noun (psychology) an unresolvable dilemma; situation in which a person receives contradictory messages from a person who is very powerful
  

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• verb shoot two strokes under par
  eagle.
  
  • She eagled the hole

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• noun a test procedure in which the identity of those receiving the intervention is concealed from both the administrators and the subjects until after the test is completed; designed to reduce or eliminate bias in the results
  

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• verb to shoot two strokes over par
  

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• noun two saucepans, one fitting inside the other
  double boiler.
  

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• noun a covalent bond in which two pairs of electrons are shared between two atoms
  

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• noun something that checks the correctness of a previous check
  countercheck.
  

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• noun a fold of fatty tissue under the chin
  buccula.
  

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• noun a clinch with two loops
  

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• . See under Convex.

Webster 1913

• (Mus.), that species of counterpoint or composition, in which two of the parts may be inverted, by setting one of them an octave higher or lower.

Webster 1913

• (Lawn Tennis), a court laid out for four players, two on each side.

Webster 1913

• noun fresh soft French cheese containing at least 60% fat
  

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• noun cream with a fat content of 48% or more
  heavy whipping cream.
  

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• noun a kind of crochet stitch
  double crochet.
  
• verb make by double stitching
  double crochet.
  

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• noun an act of betrayal
  double cross.
  
  • he gave us the old double cross
  • I could no longer tolerate his impudent double-crossing
• verb betray by double-dealing
  

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• noun a character used in printing to indicate a cross reference or footnote
  double dagger; diesis.
  

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• (Print.), a reference mark (&ddagr;) next to the dagger (&dagr;) in order; a diesis.

Webster 1913

• noun twice the amount that a court would normally find the injured party entitled to
  

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• noun a date in which two couples participate
  

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Dou"ble deal"er

Definitions

1. One who practices double dealing; a deceitful, trickish person. L'Estrange.

Webster 1913

Dou"ble deal"ing

Definitions

1. False or deceitful dealing. See Double dealing, under Dealing. Shak.

Webster 1913

• noun a chemical reaction between two compounds in which parts of each are interchanged to form two new compounds (AB+CD=AD+CB)
  double decomposition; metathesis.
  

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• noun a chemical reaction between two compounds in which parts of each are interchanged to form two new compounds (AB+CD=AD+CB)
  double decomposition; metathesis.
  

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• noun a two-digit integer; from 10 to 99
  

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• noun someone who draws two incomes from the government (usually by combining a salary and a pension)
  

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• noun two incomes received from the same source (as by holding a government job and receiving a government pension)
  

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• noun two vertical doors that meet in the middle of the door frame when closed
  

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• noun an illegal dribble in basketball (the player uses both hands to dribble or the player starts to dribble a second time after coming to a stop)
  

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• (Mus.), a large drum that is beaten at both ends.

Webster 1913

• noun an incomprehensible talk
  
• noun the difficult version of jump rope in which players jump over two ropes that are swung in a crisscross manner by two turners
  

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• verb dye twice
  

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• noun (golf) a score of three strokes under par on a hole
  
• noun a former gold coin in the United States worth 20 dollars
  

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• a gold coin of the United States having the value of 20 dollars.
• a gold coin of the United States worth twenty dollars.

Webster 1913

• noun an ambiguity with one interpretation that is indelicate
  

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• noun bookkeeper debits the transaction to one account and credits it to another
  double entry.
  

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• . See under Bookkeeping.

Webster 1913

• noun (tennis) two successive faults in serving resulting in the loss of the point
  

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• noun two games instead of one (especially in baseball when the same two teams play two games on the same day)
  doubleheader; twin bill.
  

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• noun a first-class honours degree in two subjects
  

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Dou"ble first`

Definitions

1. (Eng. Universities) (a) A degree of the first class both in classics and mathematics. (b) One who gains at examinations the highest honor both in the classics and the mathematics. Beaconsfield.

Webster 1913

• noun a musical notation of two flats in front of a note indicating that it is to be lowered by two semitones
  

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• (Arch.), a floor in which binding joists support flooring joists above and ceiling joists below. See Illust. of Double-framed floor.

Webster 1913

• . See Double, a., 4.

Webster 1913

• (Mus.), a fugue on two subjects.

Webster 1913

• noun a window with two panes of glass and a space between them; reduces heat and noise transmission through the window
  

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• noun a smooth firm mild orange-red cheese
  

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• noun very tall branching herb with showy much-doubled yellow flower heads
  Rudbeckia laciniata hortensia; golden glow; hortensia.
  

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• noun a pair of parallel helices intertwined about a common axis
  
  • the shape of the DNA molecule is a double helix

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• noun a clause in an insurance policy that provides for double the face value of the policy in the case of accidental death
  

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• noun the prosecution of a defendant for a criminal offense for which he has already been tried; prohibited in the fifth amendment to the United States Constitution
  

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• noun a knit fabric similar to jersey that is made with two sets of needles producing a double thickness joined by interlocking stitches
  

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• noun a gymnastic exercise performed on the pommel horse when the gymnast (with legs together) swings his legs in a circle while alternating hands on the pommels
  

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• . (a) (Print.) Two letters on one shank; a ligature . (b) A mail requiring double postage.

Webster 1913

• noun an affirmative constructed from two negatives
  
  • A not unwelcome outcome
• noun a grammatically substandard but emphatic negative
  
  • I don't never go

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• (Mus.), a note of double the length of the semibreve; a breve. See Breve.

Webster 1913

• noun a character used in printing to indicate a cross reference or footnote
  double dagger; diesis.
  

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• (Mus.), an interval composed of two octaves, or fifteen notes, in diatonic progression; a fifteenth.

Webster 1913

• verb bend over or curl up, usually with laughter or pain
  double; double over.
  
  • He doubled and vomited violently

WordNet

• . See under Pica.

Webster 1913

• noun the act of getting two players out on one play
  

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• (Baseball), a play by which two players are put out at the same time.

Webster 1913

• (Law), a plea alleging several matters in answer to the declaration, where either of such matters alone would be a sufficient bar to the action. Stephen.

Webster 1913

• noun lobar pneumonia involving both lungs
  

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• (Geom.), a point of a curve at which two branches cross each other. Conjugate or isolated points of a curve are called double points, since they possess most of the properties of double points (see Conjugate). They are also called acnodes, and those points where the branches of the curve really cross are called crunodes. The extremity of a cusp is also a double point.

Webster 1913

• . (Eccl. Law) See Duplex querela, under Duplex.

Webster 1913

• adverb at a faster speed
  double quick.
  
  • now let's play the piece again double-quick

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• noun a pair of quotation marks
  

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• noun a woodwind that has a pair of joined reeds that vibrate together
  double reed.
  
• noun a pair of joined reeds that vibrate together to produce the sound in some woodwinds
  

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• noun splitting a ray into two parallel rays polarized perpendicularly
  birefringence.
  

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• . (Opt.) See Refraction.

Webster 1913

• noun a chemical reaction between two compounds where the positive ion of one compound is exchanged with the positive ion of another compound
  

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• noun (American football) a running play in which a first reverse is followed by a second reverse
  

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• noun a two-syllable rhyme
  
  • `ended' and `blended' form a double rhyme

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• noun a solution of two simple salts that forms a single substance on crystallization
  

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• . (Chem.) (a) A mixed salt of any polybasic acid which has been saturated by different bases or basic radicals, as the double carbonate of sodium and potassium, NaKCO3.6H2O . (b) A molecular combination of two distinct salts, as common alum, which consists of the sulphate of aluminium, and the sulphate of potassium or ammonium.

Webster 1913

• noun two saucepans, one fitting inside the other
  double boiler.
  

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• noun a musical notation of two sharps in front of a note indicating that it is to be raised by two semitones
  

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• a low, noisy dance.

Webster 1913

• noun an ethical or moral code that applies more strictly to one group than to another
  

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• (Polit. Econ.), a double standard of monetary values; i. e., a gold standard and a silver standard, both of which are made legal tender.

Webster 1913

• noun a code that permits greater sexual freedom for men than for women (associated with the subordination of women)
  

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• noun a system of two stars that revolve around each other under their mutual gravitation
  binary star; binary.
  

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• (Astron.), two stars so near to each other as to be seen separate only by means of a telescope. Such stars may be only optically near to each other, or may be physically connected so that they revolve round their common center of gravity, and in the latter case are called also binary stars.

Webster 1913

• noun a kind of crochet stitch
  double crochet.
  
• verb make by double stitching
  double crochet.
  

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• noun stopping two strings and producing two notes at the same time
  

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• noun a delayed reaction indicating surprise
  

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• noun deliberately unintelligible gibberish
  

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• noun a fast marching pace (180 steps/min) or slow jog
  
• noun a doubled wage (for working overtime)
  
• adverb at a faster speed
  double quick.
  
  • now let's play the piece again double-quick

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• (Mil.). Same as Double-quick.

Webster 1913

• verb play fast notes on a wind instrument
  triple-tongue.
  

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• verb bend over or curl up, usually with laughter or pain
  double; double over.
  
  • He doubled and vomited violently
• verb share a room or a bed designed for only one person
  
• verb stake winnings from one bet on a subsequent wager
  parlay.
  

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• noun visual impairment in which an object is seen as two objects
  diplopia.
  
  • diplopia often disappears when one eye is covered

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• a window having two sets of glazed sashes with an air space between them.

Webster 1913

Dou"ble-act`ing adjective

Definitions

1. Acting or operating in two directions or with both motions; producing a twofold result; as, a double-acting engine or pump.

Webster 1913

Dou"ble-bank" transitive verb

Definitions

1. (Naut.) To row by rowers sitting side by side in twos on a bank or thwart.

Webster 1913

Dou"ble-banked` adjective

Definitions

1. Applied to a kind of rowing in which the rowers sit side by side in twos, a pair of oars being worked from each bank or thwart.

Webster 1913

• adjective having two barrels mounted side by side
  double-barreled.
  
  • a double-barreled shotgun
• adjective satellite having two purposes; twofold
  double-barreled.
  
  • our double-barreled desire to make things profitable as well as attractive"- Louis Kronenbergers

WordNet

Dou"ble-bar`reled, -bar`relled adjective (Also<

• Double-barreled
• Double-barrelled

)

Definitions

1. Having two barrels; -- applied to a gun.

Webster 1913

• adjective having two barrels mounted side by side
  double-barreled.
  
  • a double-barreled shotgun
• adjective satellite having two purposes; twofold
  double-barreled.
  
  • our double-barreled desire to make things profitable as well as attractive"- Louis Kronenbergers

WordNet

Dou"ble-bar`reled, -bar`relled adjective (Also<

• Double-barreled
• Double-barrelled

)

Definitions

1. Having two barrels; -- applied to a gun.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite pitched an octave below normal bass instrumental or vocal range
  contrabass.
  
  • contrabass or double-bass clarinet

WordNet

Dou"ble-beat` valve"

Definitions

1. See under Valve.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite having a double bed
  
  • a double-bedded room

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• noun an ax that has cutting edges on both sides of the head
  double-bitted ax; Western ax; Western axe.
  

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• noun an ax that has cutting edges on both sides of the head
  double-bitted ax; Western ax; Western axe.
  

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• noun an experimental procedure in which neither the subjects of the experiment nor the persons administering the experiment know the critical aspects of the experiment
  double-blind procedure; double-blind experiment.
  
  • a double-blind procedure is used to guard against both experimenter bias and placebo effects

WordNet

• noun an experimental procedure in which neither the subjects of the experiment nor the persons administering the experiment know the critical aspects of the experiment
  double-blind procedure; double-blind experiment.
  
  • a double-blind procedure is used to guard against both experimenter bias and placebo effects

WordNet

• noun an experimental procedure in which neither the subjects of the experiment nor the persons administering the experiment know the critical aspects of the experiment
  double-blind procedure; double-blind experiment.
  
  • a double-blind procedure is used to guard against both experimenter bias and placebo effects

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• noun (golf) a score of two strokes over par for a hole
  

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• adjective (of clothing) fastened by lapping one edge of the front well over the other usually with a double row of buttons
  
  • double-breasted jacket
  • double-breasted suit

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Dou"ble-breast`ed adjective

Definitions

1. Folding or lapping over on the breast, with a row of buttons and buttonholes on each side; as, a double-breasted coat.

Webster 1913

• noun a jacket having fronts that overlap enough for two separate rows of buttons
  

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• noun a suit with a double-breasted jacket
  

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Dou"ble-charge` transitive verb

Definitions

1. To load with a double charge, as of gunpowder.
2. To overcharge. Shak.

Webster 1913

• verb check once more to be absolutely sure
  

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• adjective satellite having sagging folds of flesh beneath the chin or lower jaw
  loose-jowled; jowly.
  

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• noun a person who says one thing and does another
  double-crosser; traitor; betrayer; two-timer.
  

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• noun an act of betrayal
  double cross.
  
  • he gave us the old double cross
  • I could no longer tolerate his impudent double-crossing

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• verb go out on a date with a partner and another couple
  
  • let's double date this Saturday

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• noun a person who says one thing and does another
  double-crosser; traitor; betrayer; two-timer.
  

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• noun acting in bad faith; deception by pretending to entertain one set of intentions while acting under the influence of another
  duplicity.
  
• adjective satellite marked by deliberate deceptiveness especially by pretending one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another
  double-dealing; two-faced; duplicitous; deceitful; double-faced; Janus-faced; ambidextrous.
  
  • she was a deceitful scheming little thing"- Israel Zangwill
  • a double-dealing double agent
  • a double-faced infernal traitor and schemer"- W.M.Thackeray

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• noun a vehicle carrying many passengers; used for public transport
  coach; omnibus; bus; motorbus; motorcoach; passenger vehicle; charabanc; jitney; autobus.
  
  • he always rode the bus to work

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Dou"ble-deck"er noun

Definitions

1. (Naut.) A man-of-war having two gun decks.
2. A public conveyance, as a street car, with seats on the roof. Colloq.

Webster 1913

Dou"ble-dye` transitive verb

Definitions

1. To dye again or twice over.

   To double-dye their robes in scarlet. J. Webster.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers
  perfect; complete; gross; arrant; unadulterated; sodding; stark; consummate; pure; utter; thoroughgoing; everlasting; staring.
  
  • an arrant fool
  • a complete coward
  • a consummate fool
  • a double-dyed villain
  • gross negligence
  • a perfect idiot
  • pure folly
  • what a sodding mess
  • stark staring mad
  • a thoroughgoing villain
  • utter nonsense
  • the unadulterated truth

WordNet

Dou"ble-dyed` adjective

Definitions

1. Dyed twice; thoroughly or intensely colored; hence; firmly fixed in opinions or habits; as, a double-dyed villain.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite capable of being interpreted in two usually contradictory ways
  
  • double-edged praise

WordNet

Dou"ble-end"er noun

Definitions

1. (Naut.) A vessel capable of moving in either direction, having bow and rudder at each end.
2. (Railroad) A locomotive with pilot at each end. Knight.

Webster 1913

Dou"ble-en*ten"dre noun

Etymology

F. double double + entendre to mean. This is a barbarous compound of French words. The true French equivalent is double entente.

Definitions

1. A word or expression admitting of a double interpretation, one of which is often obscure or indelicate.

Webster 1913

• noun bookkeeper debits the transaction to one account and credits it to another
  double entry.
  

WordNet

Dou"ble-eyed` adjective

Definitions

1. Having a deceitful look. R. "Deceitful meanings is double-eyed." Spenser.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite (of fabrics) having faces on both sides
  
  • damask is a double-faced fabric
• adjective satellite marked by deliberate deceptiveness especially by pretending one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another
  double-dealing; two-faced; duplicitous; deceitful; double-faced; Janus-faced; ambidextrous.
  
  • she was a deceitful scheming little thing"- Israel Zangwill
  • a double-dealing double agent
  • a double-faced infernal traitor and schemer"- W.M.Thackeray

WordNet

Dou"ble-faced` adjective

Definitions

1. Having two faces designed for use; as, a double-faced hammer.
2. Deceitful; hypocritical; treacherous. Milton.

Webster 1913

• (Arch.), a double floor having girders into which the binding joists are framed.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite equipped with compound gearing consisting of 2 pinions and 2 wheels in mesh to increase the mechanical advantage
  
  • the double-geared lifting mechanism of a crane
• adjective satellite (of a lathe) equipped with gearing for reducing the speed of the spindle from that of the driving pulley
  back-geared.
  
  • a back-geared lathe

WordNet

• verb provide with two sheets of glass
  

WordNet

Dou"ble-hand"ed adjective

Definitions

1. Having two hands.
2. Deceitful; deceptive. Glanvill.

Webster 1913

Dou"ble-head"ed adjective

Definitions

1. Having two heads; bicipital.

Webster 1913

• adjective having two humps
  two-humped.
  

WordNet

Dou"ble-hung` adjective

Definitions

1. Having both sashes hung with weights and cords; -- said of a window.

Webster 1913

• noun a window having two sashes that slide up and down
  

WordNet

• adjective satellite having unusually flexible joints especially of the limbs or fingers
  

WordNet

Dou"ble-lock` transitive verb

Definitions

1. To lock with two bolts; to fasten with double security. Tatler.

Webster 1913

• noun a large wine bottle (holds 4/5 of a gallon)
  jeroboam.
  

WordNet

Dou"ble-milled` adjective

Definitions

1. Twice milled or fulled, to render more compact or fine; -- said of cloth; as, double-milled kerseymere.

Webster 1913

• verb park a vehicle alongside another
  

WordNet

• noun a propeller plane with an engine that drives two propellers in opposite directions (for stability)
  double-prop; twin-prop; twin-propeller-plane.
  

WordNet

• noun a propeller plane with an engine that drives two propellers in opposite directions (for stability)
  double-prop; twin-prop; twin-propeller-plane.
  

WordNet

• adjective satellite (of a marching cadence) very quick
  

WordNet

Dou"ble-quick` adjective

Definitions

1. (Mil.) Of, or performed in, the fastest time or step in marching, next to the run; as, a double-quick step or march.

Dou"ble-quick` noun

Definitions

1. Double-quick time, step, or march. ✍ Double-quick time requires 165 steps, each 33 inches in length, to be taken in one minute. The number of steps may be increased up to 180 per minute.

Dou"ble-quick` intransitive verb & transitive verb

Definitions

1. (Mil.) To move, or cause to move, in double-quick time.

Webster 1913

• noun a woodwind that has a pair of joined reeds that vibrate together
  double reed.
  

WordNet

Dou"ble-rip"per noun

Definitions

1. A kind of coasting sled, made of two sleds fastened together with a board, one before the other. Local, U. S.

Webster 1913

Dou"ble-shade` transitive verb

Definitions

1. To double the natural darkness of (a place). Milton.

Webster 1913

• verb type with a full space between lines
  double-space.
  

WordNet

• verb type with a full space between lines
  double-space.
  
• adjective satellite (of type or print) having a blank line between lines of type
  
  • manuscripts must be double-spaced

WordNet

• noun typing that leaves alternate lines blank
  
• verb type with a full space between lines
  double-space.
  

WordNet

• verb cover with two defensive players
  

WordNet

Dou"ble-tongue` noun

Definitions

1. Deceit; duplicity.

   Now cometh the sin of double-tongue, such as speak fair before folk and wickedly behind. Chaucer.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite marked by deliberate deceptiveness especially by pretending one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another
  double-dealing; two-faced; duplicitous; deceitful; double-faced; Janus-faced; ambidextrous.
  
  • she was a deceitful scheming little thing"- Israel Zangwill
  • a double-dealing double agent
  • a double-faced infernal traitor and schemer"- W.M.Thackeray

WordNet

Dou"ble-tongued` adjective

Definitions

1. Making contrary declarations on the same subject; deceitful.

   Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued. 1 Tim. iii. 8.

Webster 1913

Dou"ble-tongu`ing noun

Definitions

1. (Mus.) A peculiar action of the tongue by flute players in articulating staccato notes; also, the rapid repetition of notes in cornet playing.

Webster 1913

• noun the 23rd letter of the Roman alphabet
  w.
  

WordNet

• noun a civil right guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution
  

WordNet

• noun a double resulting from a line drive
  line double.
  

WordNet

• noun a double resulting from a line drive
  line double.
  

WordNet

• verb see things as if they were there twice
  
  • After taking the drug, John saw double

WordNet

• (Mil.), to inclose between two fires.

Webster 1913

• to set two men to pulling one oar.

Webster 1913

• (Naut.), to perform the labor of three days in two; a phrase which alludes to a practice of working by the night tide as well as by the day.

Webster 1913