twin

[ twin ]

/ twɪn /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: twin / twinned / twinning / twins on Thesaurus.com

noun

either of two children or animals brought forth at a birth.

either of two persons or things closely related to or closely resembling each other.

Also called twin room. a type of hotel accommodation with twin beds, for occupancy by two persons.Compare double (def. 13).

Also called hemitrope. Crystallography. a compound crystal consisting of two or more parts or crystals definitely oriented each to the other; macle.

Twins, Astronomy, Astrology. the constellation or sign of Gemini.

adjective

being a twin or twins: twin sisters.

being two persons or things closely related to or closely resembling each other.

being one of a pair; identical: a twin bracelet; a twin peak.

consisting of two similar parts or elements joined or connected: a twin vase.

Botany, Zoology. occurring in pairs; didymous.

Crystallography. of the nature of a twin; hemitrope.

twofold or double.

verb (used with object), twinned, twin·ning.

to bring together in close relationship; pair; couple.

to furnish a counterpart to or a replica of; match.

Informal. to divide or convert into two, parts, similar items, etc.: The old movie palace will be twinned, making two smaller theaters.

Informal. to link or combine with: The new grocery store is twinned with a restaurant.

Crystallography. to form into a twin.

Obsolete. to give birth to as twins.

verb (used without object), twinned, twin·ning.

to give birth to twins.

to be paired or coupled.

to match or resemble someone or something in a specific way, and to acknowledge this resemblance: They are twinning so hard right now.Check out these photos of moms and daughters twinning!

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON THE MANY TYPES OF NOUNS

They're everywhere you turn, but can you identify the 10 types of nouns easily? This quiz will test your mettle against singular, plural, concrete, abstract, common, proper, collective, compound, countable, and uncountable nouns!

Question 1 of 7

Shoelaces, rainbow, toothpaste, and haircuts are all what type of noun?

collective

compound

countable

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar Coach

Improve Your Writing

Origin of twin

First recorded before 900; Middle English adjective twynne, twinne, Old English adjective twinn “twofold, double”; noun and adjective getwinn “double,” (plural getwinnas “twins”); akin to Old Frisian twīna, twīne “two together,” Old Norse tvinnr “double,” Gothic twaihnái “two each”

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH twin

twain, twin , twine

Words nearby twin

twilight zone, twilit, twill, twill weave, T.W.I.M.C., twin, twin bed, twinberry, twin bill, twinborn, Twin Cities

Definition for twin (2 of 2)

twin²

[ twin ]

/ twɪn /

verb (used with or without object), twinned, twin·ning.Scot.

twine².

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for twin

Wanda had been missing her twin brother throughout the season, setting up a possible reunion in the alternate reality she has created for herself in “WandaVision,” where she has proven to be immensely powerful.
Is ‘WandaVision’s’ surprise cameo a bit of trickery, or a mutant master stroke?|David Betancourt|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
He said he’ll treasure the limited time she spent with his 1-year-old twin boys, Noah and Matias.
Blanca Kling, a pillar in the Latino community who helped thousands of crime victims, dies of complications of covid-19|Luz Lazo|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
At the time, three friends — an 18-year-old man and 19-year-old twin sisters — were hanging signs in the trail area, according to court documents filed by Maryland-National Capital Park Police and an earlier interview with the 18-year-old.
Bethesda bike-trail assailant receives probation for attack in flier-snatching case|Dan Morse|February 2, 2021|Washington Post
Identical twins may not be exact copies at the DNA level after all.
Some identical twins don’t have the exact same DNA|Tina Hesman Saey|January 22, 2021|Science News For Students

Four Maryland players, including twins Matt and Ben Di Rosa, are draft eligible but could end up playing for the Terrapins this spring.
College players, in a year jumbled by the pandemic, prepare for the MLS draft amid uncertainty|Steven Goff|January 20, 2021|Washington Post
Twin buglers played “Taps” and three police helicopters flew overhead in the missing-man formation.
Funeral Protest Is Too Much for NYPD Union Boss|Michael Daly|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Target was established in 1962 by the Dayton brothers as a discount offshoot of their eponymous Twin Cities department store.
Best Buy Punches Back at Amazon|William O’Connor|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Twin girls, Greta and Grace, run around the floor in circles, wearing pink playsuits with tiny pink wings attached.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda|Ruth Michaelson|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The twin entrepreneurs and stars of HGTV's Property Brothers will be taking your questions live on Tuesday, December 16 at 2pm.
Live Q&A: Drew and Jonathan Scott|The Daily Beast|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Production companies he was working with discovered that he had a twin brother in the renovation industry.
How the Property Brothers Became Your Mom’s Favorite TV Stars|Kevin Fallon|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This hurly-burly,” said he, drawing her into a quiet eddy of the stream, “is no place for the communion of two twin souls.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
The twin whirlpools threatened the affrightened mariner on either side.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
Through the rear window, Delancy saw twin swords of light from the lamps of another car not so far behind them.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
Matt listened to the steady hum of the Comet's twin cylinders with an exultation he could not conceal.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
My cousin Philip will believe now that he might be my brothermy twin brotherbut that he appears older than he is.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater

British Dictionary definitions for twin

twin

/ (twɪn) /

noun

either of two persons or animals conceived at the same time
(as modifier)a twin brother See also identical (def. 3), fraternal (def. 3)

either of two persons or things that are identical or very similar; counterpart
(as modifier)twin carburettors

Also called: macle a crystal consisting of two parts each of which has a definite orientation to the other

verb twins, twinning or twinned

to pair or be paired together; couple

(intr) to bear twins

(intr) (of a crystal) to form into a twin

(intr) archaic to be born as a twin

(tr)

to create a reciprocal relation between (two towns in different countries); pair (a town) with another in a different country
(intr) (of a town) to be paired with a town in a different country

Derived forms of twin

twinning, noun

Word Origin for twin

Old English twinn; related to Old High German zwiniling twin, Old Norse tvinnr double

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

Medical definitions for twin

twin

[ twĭn ]

n.

One of two offspring born at the same birth.

adj.

Being two or one of two offspring born at the same birth.

Consisting of two identical or similar parts; double.

Scientific definitions for twin

twin

[ twĭn ]

One of two offspring born of a single gestation. Identical twins result from the division of a fertilized egg. Fraternal twins result from the fertilization of two separate eggs at the same time.

A crystal structure consisting of two intergrown crystals that are mirror images of each other. Mineral twins can form as result of defective crystal growth in response to stress from rock deformation or during magma cooling.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

twin