Main Entry: ¹sin·gle

Pronunciation: \ˈsiŋ-gəl\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English sengle, from Anglo-French, from Latin singulus one only; akin to Latin sem- one — more at same

Date: 14th century

1 a : not married b : of or relating to celibacy
2 : unaccompanied by others : lone, sole <the single survivor of the disaster>
3 a (1) : consisting of or having only one part, feature, or portion <single consonants> (2) : consisting of one as opposed to or in contrast with many : uniform <a single standard for men and women> (3) : consisting of only one in number <holds to a single ideal> b : having but one whorl of petals or ray flowers <a single rose>
4 a : consisting of a separate unique whole : individual <every single citizen> b : of, relating to, or involving only one person
5 a : frank, honest <a single devotion> b : exclusively attentive <an eye single to the truth>
6 : unbroken, undivided
7 : having no equal or like : singular
8 : designed for the use of one person only <a single room> <a single bed>