two

[ too ]

noun

1. a cardinal number, 1 plus 1.
2. a symbol for this number, as 2 or II.
3. a set of this many persons or things.
4. a playing card, die face, or half of a domino face with two pips.

adjective

1. amounting to two in number.

two

/ tuː /

noun

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one. It is a prime number See also number
2. a numeral, 2, II, (ii), etc, representing this number
3. music the numeral 2 used as the lower figure in a time signature, indicating that the beat is measured in minims
4. something representing, represented by, or consisting of two units, such as a playing card with two symbols on it
5. Also calledtwo o'clock two hours after noon or midnight
6. in two
   in or into two parts

   break the bread in two

7. put two and two together
   to make an inference from available evidence, esp an obvious inference
8. that makes two of us
   the same applies to me

determiner

1. 1. amounting to two

      two nails

   2. ( as pronoun )

      he bought two

Word History and Origins

Origin of two¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English twā (feminine and neuter; twain ); cognate with German zwei; compare Latin duo, Greek dýo

Word History and Origins

Origin of two¹

Old English twā (feminine); related to Old High German zwā, Old Norse tvau, Latin, Greek duo

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in two, into two separate parts, as halves:

   A bolt of lightning split the tree in two.

2. put two and two together, to draw a correct conclusion from the given circumstances; infer:

   It didn't require a great mind to put two and two together.

More idioms and phrases containing two

• fall between the crack (two stools)
• for two cents
• game that two can play
• goody-two-shoes
• in two shakes
• it takes two
• kill two birds with one stone
• know all the answers (a thing or two)
• lesser of two evils
• like as two peas in a pod
• no two ways about it
• of two minds
• put two and two together
• that makes two of us
• thing or two
• wear two hats

Example Sentences

Students wore “Make America Great Again” T-shirts and hats, toted at least two Trump cardboard cutouts and cheered loudly as a school security guard brandished a Trump banner.

From Los Angeles Times

Unlike these two incidents, however, Garratt said she did not share her political views in the classroom.

From Los Angeles Times

The other 50% of reservations will be released two days prior to a specific day at 8 a.m.

From Los Angeles Times

“And there’s really only two places to shoot from and, in those areas, you can be packed like sardines.”

From Los Angeles Times

According to his former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s go-to order at McDonald’s is “two Big Macs, two Filet-O-Fish and a chocolate malted.”

From Salon

Related Words

• couple
• double
• pair
• team