Twofold vs. Double: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 29, 2023
"Twofold" means having two parts or aspects, while "double" simply means two times the quantity or size. "Twofold" implies complexity, while "double" indicates a numerical increase.
Key Differences
Twofold implies something that has two distinct parts or aspects, often used to describe abstract concepts. Double, however, commonly refers to the act of increasing something in size, quantity, or extent.
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Dec 29, 2023
When using twofold, the emphasis is on the duality of components or dimensions. In contrast, double often pertains to replication or duplication of something tangible or numerical.
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Dec 29, 2023
Twofold can be used to describe complexities or dual natures in situations or characteristics. Conversely, double typically signifies a simple increase or doubling up of an entity.
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Dec 29, 2023
In usage, twofold is often employed in more formal or academic contexts to denote dual aspects. Double, on the other hand, is widely used in everyday language and is more straightforward in meaning.
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Dec 29, 2023
Twofold may imply a more metaphorical or nuanced doubling, whereas double is direct and literal, pertaining to quantity or size.
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Dec 29, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Context of Use
Abstract concepts, dualities
Quantitative increase, duplication
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Twofold and Double Definitions
Twofold
Consisting of two parts.
The benefits of the plan are twofold: economic and environmental.
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Double
Twice as much in size, strength, or number.
She ordered a double espresso.
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Twofold
Involving two dimensions or perspectives.
The issue needs to be approached with a twofold strategy.
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Double
To serve as a substitute or understudy.
He doubles as a writer and director.
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Twofold
In two ways or for two reasons.
The decision was twofold: due to cost and efficiency.
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Twofold
Dual in nature or function.
The twofold purpose of the meeting was informative and motivational.
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Twofold
Double; duplicate; multiplied by two.
The wheat produced a twofold harvest.
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Double
Composed of two unlike parts; dual
A double meaning.
A double role for an actor.
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Twofold
Having two parts, especially two different parts.
A twofold nature; a twofold sense; a twofold argument
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Twofold
Double; duplicate; multiplied by two; as, a twofold nature; a twofold sense; a twofold argument.
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Double
(Botany) Having many more than the usual number of petals, usually in a crowded or an overlapping arrangement
A double chrysanthemum.
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Twofold
Having more than one decidedly dissimilar aspects or qualities;
A double (or dual) role for an actor
The office of a clergyman is twofold; public preaching and private influence
Every episode has its double and treble meaning
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Twofold
Twice as great or many;
Ate a double portion
The dose is doubled
A twofold increase
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Double
Something capable of carrying, moving, or holding two people or things, as a mattress.
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Double
An actor who takes the place of another actor in scenes requiring special skills or preparations
A stunt double.
A body double.
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Double
Doubles(Sports) A form of a game, such as tennis or handball, having two players on each side.
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Double
(Baseball) A hit enabling the batter to reach second base. Also called two-bagger, two-base hit.
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Double
A bid in bridge indicating strength to one's partner; a request for a bid.
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Double
A bid doubling one's opponent's bid in bridge, thus increasing the penalty for failure to fulfill the contract.
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Double
(Music) To duplicate (another part or voice) an octave higher or lower or in unison.
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Double
To turn sharply or all the way around; reverse one's course
Had to double back to touch the missed base.
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Double
To serve in an additional capacity
A frying pan that doubles as a pie tin.
A conductor who doubles as a pianist.
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Double
To twice the amount or extent; doubly
Paid double for the customized car.
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Double
Made up of two matching or complementary elements.
The closet has double doors.
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Double
Of a family relationship, related on both the maternal and paternal sides of a family.
He's my double cousin as my mother's sister married my father's brother.
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Double
Two together; two at a time. (especially in see double)
There are only a few beds, so some of the children will have to sleep double for the night.
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Double
A person who resembles and stands in for another person, often for safety purposes
Saddam Hussein was rumored to have many doubles.
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Double
A drink with two portions of alcohol.
On second thought, make that a double.
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Double
A redundant item for which an identical item already exists.
I have more than 200 stamps in my collection but they're not all unique: some are doubles.
Before printing the photos, Liam deleted the doubles.
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Double
(baseball) A two-base hit.
The catcher hit a double to lead off the ninth.
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Double
(bridge) A call that increases certain scoring points if the last preceding bid becomes the contract.
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Double
(billiards) A strike in which the object ball is struck so as to make it rebound against the cushion to an opposite pocket.
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Double
A bet on two horses in different races in which any winnings from the first race are placed on the horse in the later race.
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Double
(dominoes) A tile that has the same value (i.e., the same number of pips) on both sides.
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Double
A double-precision floating-point number.
The sine function returns a double.
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Double
(soccer) Two competitions, usually one league and one cup, won by the same team in a single season.
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Double
The feat of winning two events in a single meet or competition.
In 1996, Michael Johnson achieved a double by winning both the 200 and 400 meter dashes.
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Double
(transitive) To multiply by two.
The company doubled their earnings per share over last quarter.
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Double
(intransitive) To increase by 100%, to become twice as large in size.
Our earnings have doubled in the last year.
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Double
To be the double of; to exceed by twofold; to contain or be worth twice as much as.
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Double
(transitive) To fold over so as to make two folds.
To make a pleat, double the material at the waist.
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Double
(baseball) To get a two-base hit.
The batter doubled into the corner.
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Double
To serve a second role or have a second purpose.
A spork is a kind of fork that doubles as a spoon.
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Double
To act as substitute for (another theatrical performer in a certain role, etc).
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Double
(theatre) To play (both one part and another, in the same play, etc).
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Double
(music) To duplicate (a part) either in unison or at the octave above or below it.
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Double
(bridge) To make a call that will double certain scoring points if the preceding bid becomes the contract.
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Double
To cause (a ball) to rebound from a cushion before entering the pocket.
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Double
(transitive) To multiply the strength or effect of by two.
Sorry, this store does not double coupons.
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Double
(military) To unite, as ranks or files, so as to form one from each two.
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Double
To transmit simultaneously on the same channel as another station, either unintentionally or deliberately, causing interference.
Could you please repeat your last transmission? Another station was doubling with you.
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Oct 19, 2023
Double
Twofold; multiplied by two; increased by its equivalent; made twice as large or as much, etc.
Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
Darkness and tempest make a double night.
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Double
Being in pairs; presenting two of a kind, or two in a set together; coupled.
[Let] The swan, on still St. Mary's lake,Float double, swan and shadow.
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Double
Divided into two; acting two parts, one openly and the other secretly; equivocal; deceitful; insincere.
With a double heart do they speak.
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Double
Having the petals in a flower considerably increased beyond the natural number, usually as the result of cultivation and the expense of the stamens, or stamens and pistils. The white water lily and some other plants have their blossoms naturally double.
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Double
To increase by adding an equal number, quantity, length, value, or the like; multiply by two; as, to double a sum of money; to double a number, or length.
Double six thousand, and then treble that.
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Oct 19, 2023
Double
To make of two thicknesses or folds by turning or bending together in the middle; to fold one part upon another part of; as, to double the leaf of a book, and the like; to clinch, as the fist; - often followed by up; as, to double up a sheet of paper or cloth.
Then the old manWas wroth, and doubled up his hands.
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Double
To be the double of; to exceed by twofold; to contain or be worth twice as much as.
Thus reënforced, against the adverse fleet,Still doubling ours, brave Rupert leads the way.
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Double
To pass around or by; to march or sail round, so as to reverse the direction of motion.
Sailing along the coast, the doubled the promontory of Carthage.
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Double
To be increased to twice the sum, number, quantity, length, or value; to increase or grow to twice as much.
'T is observed in particular nations, that within the space of three hundred years, notwithstanding all casualties, the number of men doubles.
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Double
To return upon one's track; to turn and go back over the same ground, or in an opposite direction.
Doubling and turning like a hunted hare.
Doubling and doubling with laborious walk.
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Double
To play tricks; to use sleights; to play false.
What penalty and danger you accrue,If you be found to double.
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Double
To set up a word or words a second time by mistake; to make a doublet.
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Double
Twice as much; twice the number, sum, quantity, length, value, and the like.
If the thief be found, let him pay double.
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Double
Among compositors, a doublet (see Doublet, 2.); among pressmen, a sheet that is twice pulled, and blurred.
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Double
That which is doubled over or together; a doubling; a plait; a fold.
Rolled up in sevenfold doubleOf plagues.
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Double
A turn or circuit in running to escape pursues; hence, a trick; a shift; an artifice.
These men are too well acquainted with the chase to be flung off by any false steps or doubles.
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Oct 19, 2023
Double
A person or thing that is the counterpart of another; a duplicate; copy; (Obs.) transcript; - now chiefly used of persons. Hence, a wraith.
My charming friend . . . has, I am almost sure, a double, who preaches his afternoon sermons for him.
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Oct 19, 2023
Double
A player or singer who prepares to take the part of another player in his absence; a substitute; - used especially of a person who resembles an actor and takes the actor's place in scenes requiring special skills; as, a stunt double.
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Oct 19, 2023
Double
A feast in which the antiphon is doubled, hat is, said twice, before and after the Psalms, instead of only half being said, as in simple feasts.
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Double
A base hit on which the batter stops safely at second base;
He hit a double to deep centerfield
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Double
A stand-in for movie stars to perform dangerous stunts;
His first job in Hollywood was as a double for Clark Gable
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Double
Someone who closely resembles a famous person (especially an actor);
He could be Gingrich's double
She's the very image of her mother
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Double
Raising the stakes in a card game by a factor of 2;
I decided his double was a bluff
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Oct 19, 2023
Double
Bend over or curl up, usually with laughter or pain;
He doubled and vomited violently
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Double
Do double duty; serve two purposes or have two functions;
She doubles as his wife and secretary
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Double
Make or do or perform again;
He could never replicate his brilliant performance of the magic trick
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Oct 19, 2023
Double
Having more than one decidedly dissimilar aspects or qualities;
A double (or dual) role for an actor
The office of a clergyman is twofold; public preaching and private influence
Every episode has its double and treble meaning
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Oct 19, 2023
Double
Consisting of or involving two parts or components usually in pairs;
An egg with a double yolk
A double (binary) star
Double doors
Dual controls for pilot and copilot
Duple (or double) time consists of two (or a multiple of two) beats to a measure
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Double
Twice as great or many;
Ate a double portion
The dose is doubled
A twofold increase
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Double
Used of flowers having more than the usual number of petals in crowded or overlapping arrangements;
Double chrysanthemums have many rows of petals and are usually spherical or hemispherical
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Double
Having two meanings with intent to deceive;
A sly double meaning
Spoke with forked tongue
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Double
To double the degree;
She was doubly rewarded
His eyes were double bright
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Double
To increase by twice the amount.
The company aims to double its sales this year.
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Double
Consisting of two similar or identical elements.
The room had a double bed.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can 'double' refer to duplication?
Yes, it can mean making an exact copy or duplication.
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Dec 29, 2023
What does 'twofold' mean?
It means having two parts, aspects, or dimensions.
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Dec 29, 2023
What does 'double' mean?
It means to increase something to twice its size or amount.
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Dec 29, 2023
Are 'twofold' and 'double' interchangeable?
Not always, as they emphasize different aspects.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can 'twofold' describe a complex idea?
Yes, it's often used for ideas with two interconnected parts.
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Dec 29, 2023
How does context affect the use of 'twofold'?
It can imply different things depending on the abstract or complex nature of the topic.
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Dec 29, 2023
Is 'twofold' used for quantitative measures?
It's less about quantity and more about dual aspects or reasons.
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Dec 29, 2023
Is 'twofold' subjective in interpretation?
It can be, depending on the dual aspects being referred to.
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Dec 29, 2023
Is 'twofold' commonly used in everyday speech?
It's more formal and less common in casual conversation.
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Dec 29, 2023
Does 'double' imply a literal increase?
Yes, it's about literal increase in size, amount, or number.
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Dec 29, 2023
Does 'double' always mean exactly twice?
Typically, but it can be used hyperbolically.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can 'twofold' refer to strategy?
Yes, it can describe strategies with two key elements.
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Dec 29, 2023
Is 'double' more versatile in usage?
Yes, it's versatile and used in various contexts.
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Dec 29, 2023
What is a common use of 'twofold'?
In describing objectives or effects that have two important elements.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can 'twofold' be used in scientific contexts?
Yes, to describe phenomena with two aspects or causes.
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Dec 29, 2023
How does 'twofold' convey complexity?
By implying more than one dimension or aspect.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can 'double' be used in sports?
Yes, like in tennis for 'double fault' or 'doubles match.'
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Dec 29, 2023
Is 'double' used in finance?
Yes, especially relating to doubling investments or profits.
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Dec 29, 2023
Does 'double' have a straightforward meaning?
Generally, it's direct and straightforward.
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Dec 29, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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