single

[ sing-guhl ]
See synonyms for: singlesingledsinglessingling on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. only one in number; one only; unique; sole: a single example.

  2. of, relating to, or suitable for one person only: a single room.

  1. solitary or sole; lone: He was the single survivor.

  2. unmarried or not in a romantic relationship: a single man.

  3. pertaining to the unmarried state: the single life.

  4. of or noting a parent who brings up a child or children alone, without a partner.

  5. of one against one, as combat or fight.

  6. consisting of only one part, element, or member: a single lens.

  7. sincere and undivided: single devotion.

  8. separate, particular, or distinct; individual: Every single one of you must do your best. It's the single most important thing.

  9. uniform; applicable to all: a single safety code for all manufacturers.

  10. (of a bed or bedclothes) twin-size.

  11. (of a flower) having only one set of petals.

  12. British. of standard strength or body, as ale, beer, etc.: Compare double.

  13. (of the eye) seeing rightly.

verb (used with object),sin·gled, sin·gling.
  1. to pick or choose (one) from others (usually followed by out): to single out a fact for special mention.

  2. Baseball.

    • to cause the advance of (a base runner) by a one-base hit.

    • to cause (a run) to be scored by a one-base hit (often followed by in or home).

verb (used without object),sin·gled, sin·gling.
  1. Baseball. to hit a single.

noun
  1. one person or thing; a single one.

  2. an accommodation suitable for one person only, as a hotel room or a table at a restaurant: to reserve a single.

  1. a ticket for a single seat at a theater.

  2. British.

    • a one-way ticket.

    • a steam locomotive having one driving wheel on each side.

  3. singles, people who are unmarried or not in a romantic relationship, especially if relatively young: It's not uncommon for singles to feel lonely on Valentine Day.

  4. Baseball.Also called one-base hit. a base hit that enables a batter to reach first base safely.

  5. singles, (used with a singular verb) a match with one player on each side, as a tennis match.

  6. Cricket. a hit for which one run is scored.

  7. Informal. a one-dollar bill.

  8. Music.

    • a phonograph record, CD, or cassette usually having two songs: I probably won't buy the single.

    • one of the songs recorded on a single: a hit single.

    • a song released or promoted separately from the rest of the album to which it belongs: A viral video put that single back on the charts.

  9. Often singles .Textiles.

    • reeled or spun silk that may or may not be thrown.

    • a one-ply yarn of any fiber that has been drawn and twisted.

Origin of single

1
First recorded in1275–1325; late Middle English (adjective), Middle English sengle, from Old French, from Latin singulus “individual, single” (usually in the plural singuli “one apiece”); cf. simplex, simultaneous

Other words for single

Other words from single

  • quasi-single, adjective
  • quasi-singly, adverb
  • un·sin·gle, adjective

Words that may be confused with single

Words Nearby single

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use single in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for single

single

/ (ˈsɪŋɡəl) /


adjective(usually prenominal)
  1. existing alone; solitary: upon the hill stood a single tower

  2. distinct from other things; unique or individual

  1. composed of one part

  2. designed for one user: a single room; a single bed

  3. (also postpositive) unmarried

  4. connected with the condition of being unmarried: he led a single life

  5. (esp of combat) involving two individuals; one against one

  6. sufficient for one person or thing only: a single portion of food

  7. even one: there wasn't a single person on the beach

  8. (of a flower) having only one set or whorl of petals

  9. determined; single-minded: a single devotion to duty

  10. (of the eye) seeing correctly: to consider something with a single eye

  11. rare honest or sincere; genuine

  12. archaic (of ale, beer, etc) mild in strength

noun
  1. something forming one individual unit

  2. an unmarried person

  1. a gramophone record, CD, or cassette with a short recording, usually of pop music, on it

  2. golf a game between two players

  3. cricket a hit from which one run is scored

    • British a pound note

    • US and Canadian a dollar note

verb
  1. (tr usually foll by out) to select from a group of people or things; distinguish by separation: he singled him out for special mention

  2. (tr) to thin out (seedlings)

  1. short for single-foot

Origin of single

1
C14: from Old French sengle, from Latin singulus individual

Derived forms of single

  • singleness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with single

single

In addition to the idioms beginning with single

  • single file, in
  • single out

also see:

  • each and every (every single)

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.