twin

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   grow as twins

   twin crystals

2. 2
   verb

   duplicate or match

   The polished surface twinned their face and chest in reverse.

3. 3
   verb

   To join, unite; to form links between (now especially of two places in different countries); to pair with.

   Reading, the English town, is twinned with Clonmel in Ireland.

4. 4
   verb

   To give birth to twins.

   “I’ve run to tell ye,” said the junior shepherd, supporting his exhausted youthful frame against the doorpost, “that you must come directly. Two more ewes have twinned — that’s what’s the matter, Shepherd Oak.”

5. 5
   verb

   To be, or be like, a twin to (someone else); to match in some way.

   The invert child and her innocent child are together lost children, twinning each other despite their distinctions.

6. 6
   verb

   To be, or be like, a pair of twins (for example, to dress identically); to be paired or suited.

   “I see you got us twinning today.” Byrd kissed Lay quickly. “I wanted you to dress like me today,” he admitted.

7. 7
   adj

   Double; dual; occurring as a matching pair.

   twin beds, twin socks

8. 8
   adj

   Forming a pair of twins.

   the twin boys

Etymology

PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English twinne, twynne, from Old English ġetwin, ġetwinn (“twin, multiple”, noun) and twinn (“twin, two-fold, double, two by two”, adjective), from Proto-Germanic *twinaz (“double/two each, twin”), Proto-Germanic *twinjaz, *twīhnaz (“two each”), from Proto-Indo-European *dwino- (“twin”), from *dwóh₁ (“two”). Cognate with Scots twyn (“twin”), Dutch tweeling (“twin”), German Zwilling (“twin”), Danish tvilling (“twin”), Swedish tvilling (“twin”), Faroese tvinnur (“a double set”), Icelandic tvenna (“duo, pair”), Lithuanian dvynys (“twin”), Russian двойня (dvojnja, “twi…