twelve

[ twelv ]
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noun
  1. a cardinal number, 10 plus 2.

  2. a symbol for this number, as 12 or XII.

  1. a set of this many persons or things.

  2. the Twelve, the 12 apostles chosen by Christ.

adjective
  1. amounting to 12 in number.

Origin of twelve

1
before 900; Middle English twelve, inflected form of twelf,Old English twelfe literally, (ten and) two leave, i.e., two left over; cognate with Old Frisian twelef, twelf,Old High German zwelif,Old Norse tōlf,Gothic twalif; compare Lithuanian dvýlika;see two, leave1, eleven

Words Nearby twelve

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How to use twelve in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for twelve

twelve

/ (twɛlv) /


noun
  1. the cardinal number that is the sum of ten and two: See also number (def. 1)

  2. a numeral, 12, XII, etc, representing this number

  1. something represented by, representing, or consisting of 12 units

  2. Also called: twelve o'clock noon or midnight

determiner
    • amounting to twelve: twelve loaves

    • (as pronoun): twelve have arrived See also dozen Related adjective: duodecimal Related prefix: dodeca-

Origin of twelve

1
Old English twelf; related to Old Frisian twelif, Old High German zwelif, Old Norse tolf, Gothic twalif

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