twelve

[ twelv ]

noun

1. a cardinal number, 10 plus 2.
2. a symbol for this number, as 12 or XII.
3. a set of this many persons or things.
4. the Twelve, the 12 apostles chosen by Christ.

adjective

1. amounting to 12 in number.

twelve

/ twɛlv /

noun

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of ten and two See also number
2. a numeral, 12, XII, etc, representing this number
3. something represented by, representing, or consisting of 12 units
4. Also calledtwelve o'clock noon or midnight

determiner

1. 1. amounting to twelve

      twelve loaves

   2. ( as pronoun ) See also dozen duodecimal dodeca-

      twelve have arrived

Word History and Origins

Origin of twelve¹

before 900; Middle English twelve, inflected form of twelf, Old English twelfe literally, (ten and) two leave, i.e., two left over; cognate with Old Frisian twelef, twelf, Old High German zwelif, Old Norse tōlf, Gothic twalif; compare Lithuanian dvýlika; two, leave ¹, eleven

Word History and Origins

Origin of twelve¹

Old English twelf ; related to Old Frisian twelif , Old High German zwelif , Old Norse tolf , Gothic twalif

Example Sentences

"For nearly twelve years I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done," he said.

From BBC

It upsets Enright to be “watching twelve billion election dollars chase down a few thousand anxious minds in Pennsylvania.”

From Salon

Missouri’s estimate of the number of ER visits in 2022 by women experiencing complications and enrolled in Medicaid was about eight to twelve, pegged to a range of complication rates.

From Los Angeles Times

He added that he had "never flirted or hit on anybody" in the twelve years that he has been with his wife.

From BBC

Within four to twelve weeks after hatching, these little tadpoles begin their transformation into toads, with only about 1% making it to adulthood.

From BBC