Word: double Part of Speech: verb Etymology: PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English double, from Old French doble, double, from Latin duplus (“twofold”). Doublet of doppio and duple. Pronunciation: /ˈdʌb.əl/, [ˈdʌb.ɫ̩] 1. To multiply by two. Labels: transitive Example: The company doubled their earnings per share over last quarter. 2. To increase by 100%, to become twice as large in size. Labels: intransitive Example: Our earnings have doubled in the last year. 3. To be the double of; to exceed by twofold; to contain or be worth twice as much as. Example: Thus re-inforc’d, againſt the adverſe Fleet / Still doubling ours, brave Rupert leads the way. 4. To fold over so as to make two folds. Labels: transitive Example: To make a pleat, double the material at the waist. 5. To clench (a fist). Labels: sometimes, transitive 6. To get a two-base hit. Example: The batter doubled into the corner. 7. To join or couple. Labels: often, transitive 8. To repeat exactly; copy. Labels: transitive 9. To serve a second role or have a second purpose. Labels: intransitive Example: A spork is a kind of fork that doubles as a spoon. 10. To act as substitute for (another theatrical performer in a certain role, etc). Labels: ambitransitive, sometimes Example: Laforêt, who (as the French express it), doubles Lainez, that is, performs the same characters in his absence. Example: […] and when she attempted to double the part of her mother, she equally failed in playing the great or agreeable lady. 11. To play (both one part and another, in the same play, etc). Example: When, therefore, Briggs, the sedate, middle-aged individual, who in the Markham household doubles the roles of butler and valet, makes his appearance, his master affects to be in a great hurry, looks at his watch, and says : […] Example: Miss Theby doubles in the part of Rose and the native girl in the Philippines. This is a problem plot in which a young man leaves the girl of his choice because she has had an affair in her earlier years. He goes to the Philippines, […] 12. To turn sharply, following a winding course. Labels: intransitive 13. To sail around (a headland or other point). Example: Sailing along the coast, he doubled the promontory of Carthage. Example: […] though the Iſland itſelf was not very large […] I found a great Ledge of Rocks lie out about two Leagues into the Sea[…]ſo that I was oblig’d to go a great Way out to Sea to double the Point. 14. To duplicate (a part) either in unison or at the octave above or below it. 15. To be capable of performing (upon an additional instrument). Labels: intransitive, usually 16. To make a call that will double certain scoring points if the preceding bid becomes the contract. 17. To double down. Labels: intransitive 18. To cause (a ball) to rebound from a cushion before entering the pocket. 19. To go or march at twice the normal speed. Labels: intransitive Example: "You double down to the harbour, my lad," said the Captain to Strickland, "and sign on. You've got your papers." Strickland set off at once, and that was the last Captain Nichols saw of him. 20. To multiply the strength or effect of by two. Labels: transitive Example: Sorry, this store does not double coupons. 21. To unite, as ranks or files, so as to form one from each two. 22. To transmit simultaneously on the same channel as another station, either unintentionally or deliberately, causing interference. Labels: informal Example: Could you please repeat your last transmission? Another station was doubling with you. 23. To operate as a double agent. Labels: intransitive Example: Was this simply the cover name of an Allied spy-code named the Brass Monkey? […] The possibility that the Brass Monkey himself was "doubling" (with headquarters' approval, of course) is too logical […]