ˈsɪŋɡl adj., n., & v. --adj. 1
one only,
not double or
multiple. 2 united or
undivided. 3 a designed or
suitable for one
person (single room). b used or
done by one person etc. or one set or
pair. 4 one by
itself; not one of
several (a single tree). 5 regarded separately (every single thing). 6 not
married. 7
Brit. (of a ticket)
valid for an
outward journey only, not for
the return. 8 (with neg. or interrog.) even one; not to
speak of
more (did not see a single person). 9 (of a flower) having only one
circle of petals. 10
lonely,
unaided. 11
archaic free from duplicity,
sincere,
consistent, guileless,
ingenuous. --n. 1 a single
thing, or
item in a
series. 2 Brit. a single
ticket. 3 a
short pop record with one
piece of
music etc. on
each side. 4 Cricket a
hit for one
run. 5 (usu. in pl.) a game with one
player on each side. 6 an
unmarried person (young singles). 7 sl. US a one-dollar
note. --v.tr. (foll. by out)
choose as an
example or as distinguishable or to
serve some purpose. øsingle
acrostic see ACROSTIC. single-acting (of an
engine etc.) having
pressure applied only to one side of the
piston. single-breasted (of a
coat etc.) having only one set of
buttons and buttonholes, not overlapping. single
combat a
duel. single
cream thin cream with a relatively low fat-content. single
cut (of a file) with grooves cut in one
direction only, not
crossing. single-decker
esp. Brit. a
bus having only one
deck. single
entry a
system of bookkeeping in
which each
transaction is entered in one
account only. single file a line of
people or things arranged one
behind another. single-handed adv. 1
without help from another. 2 with one
hand. --adj. 1 done etc. single-handed. 2 for one hand. single-handedly in a single-handed
way. single-lens
reflex denoting a reflex
camera in which a single
lens serves the
film and the
viewfinder. single-line with
movement of
traffic in only one direction at a
time. single
parent a person bringing up a
child or
children without a
partner. singles bar a bar for single people seeking
company. single-seater a
vehicle with one
seat. single stick 1 a basket-hilted stick of
about a sword's
length. 2 one-handed
fencing with
this. single-tree US =
SWINGLETREE. øøsingleness n. singly adv. [ME f. OF f. L singulus, rel. to simplus SIMPLE]
