WHAT IS MEANING OF SINGLE
SINGLE
Single (noun)
Single (verb)
1
always used before a noun : not having or including another : only one
They lost by a single point. [=they lost by one point]
A single shoe was found.
It costs $10 for a single glass of wine!
[+] more examples
— sometimes used to emphasize the largeness or importance of something
The fingerprint turned out to be the single most important piece of evidence.
Tobacco is the single greatest/largest/biggest industry in the state.
Drunk driving is the greatest/largest/biggest single killer of high school students.
— sometimes used in negative statements to emphasize that there is a complete lack of something
Not a single cookie was left.
Not a single sound was heard.
I could not hear a single word of what he said.
We didn’t get a single reply.
2
: not married or not having a serious romantic relationship with someone
a club for single [=unattached, unmarried] people
Are you single?
a single parent/mother/father [=a mother or father who takes care of a child alone]
3
— used for emphasis after words like any, each, every, etc.
He has more home runs than any other single player. [=than any other player]
These laws apply to each single citizen.
I drink milk every single day.
She can’t watch him every single minute.
4
always used before a noun : made for one person to use
I stayed in a single room.
I slept in a single bed. [=(US) twin bed]
5
British : one-way
a single ticket
How much is the single fare?
plural singles
1
[count] : an unmarried person and especially one who is young and socially active — usually plural
The party is for singles.
— often used before another noun
a singles bar/club
2
[count]
a baseball : a hit that allows the batter to reach first base
He hit a single to right field.
— compare double, home run, triple
b cricket : a hit that scores one run
3
singles [plural] : a game of tennis or a similar sport that is played between two players
Do you want to play singles or doubles?
a singles match
4
[count] : a music recording having one main song and sometimes one or more other songs
I bought the single.
also : one song from a recording that includes many songs
Have you heard the latest single from the album?
The song was released as a single before the album came out.
— compare album
5
[count] : a room in a hotel, inn, etc., for one person
The hotel has only singles available.
— compare double
6
[count] US : a one-dollar bill
Do you have five singles for this five?
7
[count] British : a one-way ticket
A single to Bath, please.
singles; singled; singling
[no object]
: to hit a single in baseball
He singled to right field.
single out [phrasal verb]
single out (someone or something) or single (someone or something) out
: to treat or to speak about (someone or something in a group) in a way that is different from the way you treat or speak about others
The teacher singled him out as the only student to get a perfect score on the test.
The coach singled out the players who played poorly.
The reviewer singled her performance out for praise/criticism.
— often used as (be) singled out
She was singled out for special treatment.
