First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1single
adjective sin·gle \ˈsiŋ-gəl\
: not having or including another : only one
: not married or not having a serious romantic relationship with someone
—used for emphasis after words like any, each, every, etc.
Full Definition of SINGLE
1
a : not married b : of or relating to celibacy
3
a (1) : consisting of or having only one part, feature, or portion <single consonants> (2) : consisting of one as opposed to or in contrast with many : uniform <a single standard for men and women> (3) : consisting of only one in number <holds to a single ideal> b : having but one whorl of petals or ray flowers <a single rose>
4
a : consisting of a separate unique whole : individual <every single citizen> b : of, relating to, or involving only one person
7
: having no equal or like : singular
8
: designed for the use of one person only <a single room> <a single bed>
See single defined for English-language learners
See single defined for kids
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Origin of SINGLE
Middle English sengle, from Anglo-French, from Latin singulus one only; akin to Latin sem- one — more at same
Related to SINGLE
2single
noun
: an unmarried person and especially one who is young and socially active
baseball : a hit that allows the batter to reach first base
cricket : a hit that scores one run
Full Definition of SINGLE
1
a : a separate individual person or thing b : an unmarried person and especially one young and socially active —usually used in plural c (1) : a recording having one short tune on each side (2) : a music recording having two or more tracks that is shorter than a full-length album; also : a song that is particularly popular independent of other songs on the same album or by the same artist
2
: a base hit that allows the batter to reach first base
3
a plural : a tennis match or similar game with one player on each side b : a golf match between two players —usually used in plural
4
: a room (as in a hotel) for one guest — compare double 7
See single defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SINGLE
1604
3single
verb
: to hit a single in baseball
sin·gledsin·gling \-g(ə-)liŋ\
Full Definition of SINGLE
transitive verb
1
: to select or distinguish from a number or group —usually used with out
2
a : to advance or score (a base runner) by a single b : to bring about the scoring of (a run) by a single
intransitive verb
: to make a single in baseball
See single defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SINGLE
1628
SINGLED Defined for Kids
1single
adjective sin·gle \ˈsiŋ-gəl\
Definition of SINGLE for Kids
1
: being alone : being the only one <He … made a single effort to jump … — Walter Farley, The Black Stallion>
2
: being a separate whole : individual <… the sheriff pretended to study the menu—though he knew every single word on it by heart. — Robert McCloskey, Homer Price>
3
: not married
4
: made up of or having only one <The word has a single syllable.>
5
: made for only one person <a single bed>
2single
verb
sin·gledsin·gling
Definition of SINGLE for Kids
: to select or distinguish (as one person or thing) from a number or group <My sister was singled out for praise.>
3single
noun
Definition of SINGLE for Kids
1
: a separate individual person or thing
2
: a hit in baseball that enables the batter to reach first base
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