twin

1 of 3

noun

ˈtwin 

1

a

: either of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy

b

Twins plural : gemini

2

: one of two persons or things closely related to or resembling each other

3

: a compound crystal composed of two adjoining crystals or parts of crystals of the same kind that share a common plane of atoms

twinship

ˈtwin-ˌship 

noun

twin

2 of 3

adjective

1

: born with one other or as a pair at one birth

my twin brother

twin girls

2

a

: made up of two similar, related, or connected members or parts : double

b

: paired in a close or necessary relationship : matching

c

: having or consisting of two identical units

d

: being one of a pair

twin

3 of 3

verb

twinned; twinning

transitive verb

1

: to bring together in close association : couple

2

: duplicate, match

intransitive verb

1

: to bring forth twins

2

of a crystal : to grow in a compound form with two adjoining sections that share a common plane of atoms

Synonyms

Noun

• companion
• fellow
• half
• match
• mate

Adjective

• binary
• bipartite
• double
• double-barreled
• double-edged
• dual
• duplex
• twofold

Examples of twin in a Sentence

Noun

She's the mother of twins.

The twins went swimming after lunch.

My sister just had twins.

Sarah and her brother are twins.

Adjective

the twin goals of reducing oil dependence and protecting the environment

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The couple gave birth to Blue Ivy in January 2012, followed by twins Sir and Rumi, born in 2017. —Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

Few have been able to capture the attention of the fashion industry, and beyond it, quite like the Olsen twins. —Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Abdul Arafat The shift between artist and disruptor-entrepreneur has come naturally for Mr Eazi, who grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana, twin poles of the Afrobeats landscape. —Lee Middleton, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Dec. 2024

Here's everything to know about Matthew Stafford's kids: Sawyer, Chandler, Hunter and Tyler. Sawyer and Chandler Stafford, 7 Matthew and Kelly welcomed their twin daughters, Sawyer J. Stafford and Chandler Page Stafford, on March 31, 2017. —Nasha Smith, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024

Verb

The photo, taken at her home in the Hamptons, shows the pop icon seated next to her dad under a tree, surrounded by her children: Lourdes Leon, 28, Rocco Ritchie, 24, David Banda, 19, Mercy James, 18, and twins Stella and Estere, 12. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

Last week, Japan announced a surprise snap election in which popular discontent with the governing LDP party following a widespread corruption scandal, twinned with a cost-of-living crisis, led to a dramatic result in the usually sedate Japanese political landscape. —Steven Desmyter, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from twin twofold

Adjective

Middle English, twofold, double, from Old English twinn; akin to Old Norse tvinnr two by two, Old English twā two

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing twin

• conjoined twin
• fraternal twin
• identical twin
• Siamese twin
• twin bed
• twin-bedded
• twin bill
• twin double
• twin primes
• twin-size
• twin town
• twin-turbo

Kids Definition

twin

1 of 3 adjective

ˈtwin 

1

: born with one other or as a pair at one birth

my twin brother

twin girls

2

a

: made up of two similar, related, or connected members or parts

b

: being one of a pair

a twin city

twin

2 of 3 verb

twinned; twinning

: to produce or give birth to twins

twin

3 of 3 noun

: either of two offspring produced at a birth compare fraternal twin, identical twin

Medical Definition

twin

1 of 2 adjective

ˈtwin 

: born with one other or as a pair at one birth

a twin brother

twin girls

twin

2 of 2 noun

1

: either of two offspring produced at a birth

2

twins plural : a group of two offspring born at one birth

twinship

-ˌship 

noun