# twin

/ˈtwɪn/ (US) · /twˈɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/twin
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. sibling

noun · CEFR A2

one of two children who are born to the same mother at the same time.

For teachers: either of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy and born at the same birth.

- My sister is my twin, but we don't look exactly the same.
- Research involving identical twins often helps scientists understand the complex relationship between genetic inheritance and environmental influences.

### 2. matching object

noun · CEFR B1

one of two things that are exactly the same or very similar.

For teachers: either of two similar or closely related objects or entities that form a pair.

- The tall buildings were twins, standing on opposite sides of the river.
- The architect designed the library as a twin to the existing museum, mirroring its limestone facade and arched windows.

### 3. hotel room

noun · CEFR A2

a room in a hotel that has two separate beds.

For teachers: a hotel accommodation containing two single beds, intended for two occupants.

- We booked a twin because it was cheaper than getting two separate rooms.
- The travel agent confirmed that the group would require five twins and three singles to accommodate all the participants comfortably.

### 4. aircraft

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

an airplane that has two engines.

For teachers: a fixed-wing aircraft powered by two separate engines.

- The pilot preferred flying the twin because it felt safer over the ocean.
- The flight school recently added a light twin to its fleet to provide students with multi-engine transition training.

### 5. friend

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · American English

a friendly way to talk to a male friend.

For teachers: a colloquial term of address used between peers, typically males, to indicate rapport.

- What's up, twin? I haven't seen you in ages.
- The greeting 'twin' has gained popularity in certain urban dialects as a marker of close social alignment between friends.

### 6. matching or double

adjective · CEFR B1

used to describe two things that are the same or happen together.

For teachers: forming a matching pair or occurring in a dual capacity.

- The country faces the twin problems of high prices and low wages.
- The government is currently grappling with the twin challenges of rising inflation and a cooling housing market.

### 7. to link together

verb · CEFR B2 · British English

to connect two things or places together, like two cities in different countries.

For teachers: to link or associate two entities, especially to establish a formal sister-city relationship.

- My hometown is twinned with a small village in France.
- The local council voted to twin the borough with a coastal city in Japan to encourage cultural exchange and tourism.

Usage: often used in the passive voice with 'with'

## Examples

- My sister is my twin and we look exactly alike.
- The architect designed two twin buildings that stand on opposite sides of the city square.
- While identical twins share the same genetic code, environmental factors and personal experiences eventually lead to distinct differences in their personalities and physical traits.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.