Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - single

~1 adj 1 »ONE« only before noun only one  (A single tree gave shade from the sun. | They won the game by a single point. | Write your answer on a single sheet of paper. | not a single (=not even one))  (We didn't get a single reply to our advertisement.) 2 »SEPARATE« only before noun considered on its own  (the highest price ever paid for a single work of art | the single most/biggest/greatest etc)  (Cigarette smoking is the single most important cause of lung cancer. | The single biggest problem we face is apathy. | every single word/day etc)  (There's no need to write down every single word I say.) 3 »PEOPLE« a) not married  (changes in the tax rate for single people) b) not involved in a romantic relationship  (I never meet any attractive single men!)  (- see also single parent) 4 single bed/room etc meant for or used by one person only  (You have to pay extra for a single room.)  (- compare double1 (4)) 5 »NOT DOUBLE« having only one part, quality etc, as opposed to having two or more  (Use double, not single, thread to reinforce the seams. | A single flower has only one set of petals. | a single-sex school (=either for boys or for girls, but not both)) 6 »TICKET« BrE a single ticket etc is for a trip from one place to another but not back again; one­way  (- compare return3, - see also singly) ~2 n 1 a musical record that has only one short song on each side  (Have you heard their latest single?) 2 a) a single run2 (17) in cricket (2) b) a hit that allows the person who is hitting the ball to reach first base1 (8) in baseball1 (8) 3 singles a game, especially in tennis, played by one person against another  (I prefer singles - you get more exercise. | Who won the women's singles?)  (- compare doubles double2 (5)) | singles bar/club/night (=a bar, club etc intended for people who are not married or involved in a romantic relationship) 4 BrE a ticket for a trip from one place to another but not back again  (A single to Oxford, please.)  (- compare return2 (9)) 5 AmE a one dollar bill1 (3)  (Anybody have five singles?) ~3 v single sb/sth out phr v to choose someone or something from among a group of similar people or things, especially in order to praise them or criticize them  (His article starts by singling out the five key goals of US foreign policy. | single sb out for praise/blame etc)  (The report singles out Mr Clarke and Mr Heseltine for special criticism.)