tu: n. & adj. --n. 1
one more than one;
the sum of one
unit and another unit. 2 a
symbol for this (2, ii, II). 3 a size etc. denoted by two. 4 the
time of two o'clock (is it two yet?). 5 a set of two. 6 a card
with two pips. --adj.
that amount to two. øin two in or
into two pieces. in two shakes (or ticks) see
SHAKE,
TICK(1). or two denoting
several (a
thing or two = several things). put two and two
together make (esp. an obvious)
inference from what is
known or
evident. that makes two of us colloq. that is
true of me
also. two-bit US colloq.
cheap,
petty. two-by-four a
length of
timber with a
rectangular cross-section 2
in. by 4 in. two by two (or two and two) in pairs. two can
play at that game colloq. another person's
behaviour can be copied to that person's
disadvantage. two-dimensional 1 having or appearing to
have length and
breadth but no
depth. 2
lacking depth or
substance;
superficial. two-edged double-edged. two-faced 1 having two faces. 2
insincere;
deceitful. two-handed 1 having, using, or requiring the
use of two hands. 2 (of a card-game) for two players. two a
penny see PENNY. two-piece adj. (of a
suit etc.) consisting of two matching items. --n. a two-piece suit etc. two-ply adj. of two strands, webs, or thicknesses. --n. 1 two-ply
wool. 2 two-ply
wood made by gluing together two layers with the
grain in
different directions. two-seater 1 a
vehicle or
aircraft with two seats. 2 a
sofa etc. for two
people. two-sided 1 having two sides. 2 having two aspects;
controversial. two-step a
round dance with a sliding
step in
march or
polka time. two-stroke
esp.
Brit. (of an internal-combustion engine) having
its power cycle completed in one up-and-down
movement of the
piston. two-time colloq. 1
deceive or be
unfaithful to (esp. a
partner or lover). 2
swindle, double-cross. two-timer colloq. a
person who is deceitful or unfaithful. two-tone having two colours or sounds. two-up
Austral. & NZ a gambling game with bets placed on a
showing of two heads or two tails. two-way 1 involving two ways or participants. 2 (of a switch) permitting a
current to be switched on or
off from
either of two points. 3 (of a radio)
capable of transmitting and receiving signals. 4 (of a tap etc.) permitting
fluid etc. to
flow in either of two channels or directions. 5 (of
traffic etc.)
moving in two esp.
opposite directions. two-way
mirror a
panel of
glass that can be
seen through from one
side and is a mirror on the
other. two-wheeler a vehicle with two wheels. [OE twa (fem. & neut.), tu (neut.), with Gmc cognates and rel. to Skr. dwau, dwe, Gk & L duo]