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/twɪn/
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A pair of two related things, most commonly two children born together, and by extension the idea of duplication, pairing, or a linked relationship in many contexts.
Examples The software twins two processes for load balancing.
The twins twin their outfits every Halloween.
The twin study desks are perfect for siblings.
They twin the data streams to ensure redundancy.
She bought a twin set of earrings.
Similar words sibling
paired
double
pair
identical
twin-like
pair
duplicate
mirror
double
Meanings Usage Use twin for a single sibling born together, not for the pair as a whole.
Examples My twin and I celebrated our birthday together.
The doctor told the twin that they were healthy.
She looked at her twin and smiled.
The twin in the next crib was crying loudly.
Our family reunion always includes the twin from each set.
He wrote a letter to his twin overseas.
The twin on the left was born five minutes earlier.
Common mistakes Confusing singular and plural forms when referring to a sibling.
Incorrect Correct I have twins.
I have a twin.
My twin are both athletes.
My twins are both athletes.
She is my twin brother.
She is my twin sister.
Similar words sibling
brother sister
pair
duplicate
match
double
Usage Use twin to label rooms, objects, or structures that come in matching pairs.
Examples The hotel offers twin rooms for two guests.
She bought a twin set of earrings.
The twin towers dominate the skyline.
Our garden has twin apple trees planted side by side.
The twin study desks are perfect for siblings.
He prefers a twin mattress for extra comfort.
The twin bridges were built to span the river.
Common mistakes Using the noun form where the adjective is required, or adding unnecessary articles.
Incorrect Correct The twin of the car is red.
The twin car is red.
She bought a twin of the dress.
She bought a twin dress.
We need a twin of the room.
We need a twin room.
Similar words paired
double
duplicate
matching
identical
twin-like
dual
Usage Use twin when describing the act of linking, matching, or duplicating items, especially in civic or technical contexts.
Examples The university twinned with a campus abroad to promote exchange.
They twin the data streams to ensure redundancy.
The software twins two processes for load balancing.
She twinned her new phone with the old one.
The twins twin their outfits every Halloween.
We are twinning the two files into one archive.
The committee twinned the two proposals into a single plan.
Common mistakes Mixing verb tenses and using the noun form instead of the verb.
Incorrect Correct The city twined with Paris.
The city twinned with Paris.
They twin the files yesterday.
They twinned the files yesterday.
She is twin the two accounts.
She is twinning the two accounts.
Similar words pair
match
duplicate
double
link
couple
mirror
Usage Choose twin for a person or thing that is one of a pair, for a double or paired description, or for the verb meaning to link two items together.
Common mistakes Using twin as a plural noun, as in ‘twins’ when referring to a single sibling, is a frequent slip.
Etymology From Old English twinn ‘double’, from Proto-Germanic twinaz ‘two each’.
FAQ What does twin mean as a noun?
Twin is one of two children born at the same time, sharing a single birth event.
How is twin used as an adjective?
When twin describes something, it means the item is paired, double, or has an identical counterpart.
How do you use twin as a verb?
As a verb, twin means to pair, match, or link two things, such as cities that become sister cities.
Is twin ever used in technology?
Yes, in computing twin can refer to processes that run in parallel or duplicated data streams.
What is the origin of the word twin ?
Twin comes from Old English twinn ‘double’, itself from Proto‑Germanic twinaz .
What is a common mistake when using twin ?
A frequent error is treating twin as a plural noun for a single sibling, saying ‘I have twins’ instead of ‘I have a twin’.
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