twin
twihn
Twin (noun) means one of two children born to the same mother at the same time. Example: “The twins are identical and hard to tell apart.”
noun
1
One of two children born to the same mother at the same time.
"The twins are identical and hard to tell apart."
"My twin and I used to swap classes just to confuse our teachers."
"The twins were born a few minutes apart in the same hospital."
2
Either of two things that are strikingly similar or closely matched.
"The two towers are twins, built to the same design."
"This cottage is the twin of the one next door, with the same blue door."
"She wore one earring and kept its twin in her pocket."
verb
1
To form an official partnership between two places, especially towns in different countries.
"The town is twinned with a village in France."
"Our city was twinned with a German town, so pupils visit each year."
"The two villages plan to twin and share school exchange visits."
adj
1
Consisting of two matching or paired items.
"We booked a twin room for the trip."
"The hotel offered a twin bed arrangement, so we each had our own bed."
"The twin engines of the little plane roared as it left the ground."
How to use twin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of two siblings born together, or anything that closely matches another thing.
Common pairings
identical twins
twin brother
twinned with
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Word forms
- Plural
- twins
- Third person singular
- twins
- Past tense
- twinned
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The _____ are identical and hard to tell apart.
Etymology
From Old English twinn ("double, two-fold"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "two each," ultimately from the ancient word for "two."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for twin
See all rhymes for twin →Frequently asked questions
What does “twin” mean?
The word “twin” means one of two children born to the same mother at the same time. In plain terms, one of two siblings born together, or anything that closely matches another thing.
How do you pronounce “twin”?
“Twin” is pronounced twihn (/twɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “twin” in a sentence?
Here is “twin” used in a sentence: “The twins are identical and hard to tell apart.”
What part of speech is “twin”?
Depending on how it is used, “twin” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “twin” come from?
The word “twin” comes from Old English. From Old English twinn ("double, two-fold"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "two each," ultimately from the ancient word for "two.".
Is “twin” a common word?
“Twin” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “twin” have?
“Twin” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of two children born to the same mother at the same time.
What is the difference between identical and fraternal twins?
Identical twins develop from a single fertilized egg and are strikingly similar, while fraternal twins develop from two separate eggs and can look as different as any siblings. Both are twins because they are born to the same mother at the same time.
Can twin be used as an adjective?
Yes. Twin often works before a noun to mean paired or matching, as in "twin beds," "twin towers," or "twin engines." This use draws on the sense of two closely matched things.
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