twin

¹

[ twin ]

noun

1. either of two children or animals brought forth at a birth.
2. either of two persons or things closely related to or closely resembling each other.
3. twin bed.
4. Also called twin room. a type of hotel accommodation with twin beds, for occupancy by two persons. Compare double ( def ).
5. Also called hemitrope. Crystallography. a compound crystal consisting of two or more parts or crystals definitely oriented each to the other; macle.
6. Twins, Astronomy, Astrology. the constellation or sign of Gemini.

adjective

1. being a twin or twins:

   twin sisters.

2. being two persons or things closely related to or closely resembling each other.
3. being one of a pair; identical:

   a twin bracelet; a twin peak.

4. consisting of two similar parts or elements joined or connected:

   a twin vase.

5. Botany, Zoology. occurring in pairs; didymous.
6. Crystallography. of the nature of a twin; hemitrope.
7. twofold or double.

verb (used with object)

, twinned, twin·ning.

1. to bring together in close relationship; pair; couple.
2. to furnish a counterpart to or a replica of; match.
3. Informal. to divide or convert into two, parts, similar items, etc.:

   The old movie palace will be twinned, making two smaller theaters.

4. Informal. to link or combine with:

   The new grocery store is twinned with a restaurant.

5. Crystallography. to form into a twin.
6. Obsolete. to give birth to as twins.

verb (used without object)

, twinned, twin·ning.

1. to give birth to twins.
2. to be paired or coupled.
3. to match or resemble someone or something in a specific way, and to acknowledge this resemblance: Check out these photos of moms and daughters twinning!

   They are twinning so hard right now.

   Check out these photos of moms and daughters twinning!

twin

²

[ twin ]

verb (used with or without object)

, Scot.

, twinned, twin·ning.

1. twine ².

twin

/ twɪn /

noun

1. 1. either of two persons or animals conceived at the same time
   2. ( as modifier ) See also identical fraternal

      a twin brother

2. 1. either of two persons or things that are identical or very similar; counterpart
   2. ( as modifier )

      twin carburettors

3. Also calledmacle a crystal consisting of two parts each of which has a definite orientation to the other

verb

1. to pair or be paired together; couple
2. intr to bear twins
3. intr (of a crystal) to form into a twin
4. archaic.
   intr to be born as a twin
5. tr
   1. to create a reciprocal relation between (two towns in different countries); pair (a town) with another in a different country
   2. intr (of a town) to be paired with a town in a different country

twin

/ twĭn /

1. One of two offspring born of a single gestation. Identical twins result from the division of a fertilized egg. Fraternal twins result from the fertilization of two separate eggs at the same time.
2. A crystal structure consisting of two intergrown crystals that are mirror images of each other. Mineral twins can form as result of defective crystal growth in response to stress from rock deformation or during magma cooling.

Derived Forms

• ˈtwinning, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of twin¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English adjective twynne, twinne, Old English adjective twinn “twofold, double”; noun and adjective getwinn “double,” (plural getwinnas “twins”); akin to Old Frisian twīna, twīne “two together,” Old Norse tvinnr “double,” Gothic twaihnái “two each”

Word History and Origins

Origin of twin¹

Old English twinn ; related to Old High German zwiniling twin, Old Norse tvinnr double

Example Sentences

In a victim impact statement, Ms Gordon's twin sister, Louise, described her as "a force of nature" and said "everything has been destroyed, shattered and broken" since her death.

From BBC

But up close, Venus is more like an evil twin: it is covered with thick clouds of sulfuric acid, and its surface has a mean temperature close to 500°C.

From Science Daily

As the sole earner in his young family, 21-year-old Josh Wiborg couldn't take shared parental leave when his twin girls were born.

From BBC

He yelled out to his twin brother, Beau.

From Los Angeles Times

Months at first, then anniversaries, birthdays twinned in the mental calendar with dates of death.

From BBC