Meaning of single In English

• 0 one only:

  • He knocked his opponent down with a single blow.

  • Not a single person offered to help her.

  • You haven't been listening to a single word I've been saying.

• 1 not married, or not having a romantic relationship with someone:

  • a single woman/man/person

  • He's been single for so long now, I don't think he'll ever marry.

  • The number of single-parent families dependent on the state has risen enormously in recent years.

• 2 considered on its own and separate from other things:

  • Patience is the single most important quality needed for this job.

  • She lost every single thing when her house burned down.

• 3 A baseball player singles by hitting a ball that allows him to reach first base.

• 4 a record or CD that has a main song and usually a small number of other songs on it:

  • Have you heard Lady Gaga's new single?

  • May I have a single to London, please.

• 5 one only:

  • A single customer was left in the shop.

• 6 considered by itself or separate from other things:

  • Taxes are the single most important source of funds for the government.

• 7 not married:

  • He’s been single for so long, I don’t think he’ll ever marry.

• 8 A single is a one-dollar bill.

• 9 a person who is not married:

  • Singles pay more in income tax than married people do.

• 10 one only:

  • Journalism often relies on a single source.

  • Is a thread of e-mails a single document or many?

  • a single use card

• 11 travelling or allowing travel in only one direction:

  • a single fare/ticket/journey

• 12 a ticket for a journey to a place, but not back again:

  • single to somewhere A single to London, please.

• 13 a piece of paper money worth one dollar