twin

1 of 3

noun

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 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

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
For example, digital twins can address U.S. Army requirements for tracking enemy assets during battlefield exercises. William Bain, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024 The original screenplay was written by real life twins Kerry Donelli and Jacqueline Donelli (Unedited Footage of a Bear) who also star and produce. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 20 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 See all Example Sentences for twin 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of twin was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near twin

Cite this Entry

“Twin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twin. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

twin

1 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
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
: 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 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on twin

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