Definition Definition

single - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'single' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Single [ a.]
- One only, as distinguished from more than one; consisting of one alone; individual; separate; as, a single star.
- Alone; having no companion.
- Hence, unmarried; as, a single man or woman.
- Not doubled, twisted together, or combined with others; as, a single thread; a single strand of a rope.
- Performed by one person, or one on each side; as, a single combat.
- Uncompounded; pure; unmixed.
- Not deceitful or artful; honest; sincere.
- Simple; not wise; weak; silly.
2 . Single [ n.]
- A unit; one; as, to score a single.
- The reeled filaments of silk, twisted without doubling to give them firmness.
- A handful of gleaned grain.
- A game with but one player on each side; -- usually in the plural.
- A hit by a batter which enables him to reach first base only.
3 . Single [ v. i.]
- To take the irrregular gait called single-foot;- said of a horse. See Single-foot.
4 . Single [ v. t.]
- To select, as an individual person or thing, from among a number; to choose out from others; to separate.
- To sequester; to withdraw; to retire.
- To take alone, or one by one.

Meaning of 'single' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . single [ n]
Meaning (1):
- the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
Example in sentence:
  • he has the one but will need a two and three to go with it;
  • they had lunch at one
2 . single [ v]
Meaning (2):
- hit a single
Example in sentence:
  • the batter singled to left field
3 . single [ a]
Meaning (3):
- existing alone or consisting of one entity or part or aspect or individual
Example in sentence:
  • a single lens;
  • a single serving;
  • a single survivor;
  • a single thickness;
  • had but a single thought which was to escape;
  • upon the hill stood a single tower
Meaning (4):
- not married or related to the unmarried state
Example in sentence:
  • are you married or single?;
  • sex and the single girl;
  • single parenthood;
  • unmarried life;
  • unmarried men and women
Meaning (5):
- being or characteristic of a single thing or person
Example in sentence:
  • individual drops of rain;
  • please mark the individual pages;
  • they went their individual ways
Meaning (6):
- used of flowers having usually only one row or whorl of petals
Example in sentence:
  • single chrysanthemums resemble daisies and may have more than one row of petals
7 . single [ s]
Meaning (7):
- characteristic of or meant for a single person or thing
Example in sentence:
  • a single bed;
  • an individual serving;
  • single occupancy
Meaning (8):
- not divided among or brought to bear on more than one object or objective
Example in sentence:
  • a single devotion to duty;
  • gained their exclusive attention;
  • judging a contest with a single eye;
  • undivided affection
Meaning (9):
- having uniform application
Example in sentence:
  • a single legal code for all