Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The bearing of twins.
  • noun A pairing or union of two similar or identical objects.
  • noun Mineralogy The formation of twin crystals.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The process or state of being twinned: said of crystals. See twin, n., 3.
  • noun Separation; parting.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Crystallog.) The assemblage of two or more crystals, or parts of crystals, in reversed position with reference to each other in accordance with some definite law; also, rarely, in artificial twinning (accomplished for example by pressure), the process by which this reversal is brought about.
  • noun repeated twinning of crystal lamellæ, as that of the triclinic feldspars.
  • noun twinning of more than two crystals, or parts of crystals.
  • noun See the Note under Twin, n.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Present participle of twin.
  • noun action of the verb to twin
  • noun giving birth to twins
  • noun the pairing of similar objects (such as towns)
  • noun mineralogy the formation of twin crystals
  • noun transport the conversion of a road into a dual carriageway
  • adjective biparous

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective producing two offspring at a time

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word twinning.

Examples

  • And the ultimate separation, the ultimate twinning, is the separation between the lawyer and the self — the creation of a professional role that is not you, but comes to have a life of its own, that comes to be as important as the authentic self.

    Is That Legal?: Books Archives 2006

  • And the ultimate separation, the ultimate twinning, is the separation between the lawyer and the self — the creation of a professional role that is not you, but comes to have a life of its own, that comes to be as important as the authentic self.

    Is That Legal?: In the Shadow of the Law 2006

  • And the ultimate separation, the ultimate twinning, is the separation between the lawyer and the self — the creation of a professional role that is not you, but comes to have a life of its own, that comes to be as important as the authentic self.

    Is That Legal?: July 2006 Archives 2006

  • There is a type of transference called twinning, in which one person models themselves after an important person in their life.

    Is it wrong for a disabled parent... Ann Althouse 2006

  • I especially love the idea of twinning the Trans-Canada in Banff National Park.

    Dodosville 2009

  • Sister cities, also known as twinning of cities, is an agreement between countries in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.

    The Times of India 2009

  • While they don't know the exact biological basis, researchers think the twinning is the result of the founder effect, according to

    Discover Blogs 2009

  • If it starts in the same frame, it's called twinning, "the No. 1 enemy of crowds."

    unknown title 2008

  • Gordon is the first critic I know of to understand the strange "twinning" of the poet and Mabel Todd, who was almost like a phantom sister in her attachment to Emily's persona.

    Lyndall Gordon's "Lives Like Loaded Guns: Emily Dickinson & Her Family's Feuds" 2010

  • Mr. Moroun's plans call for "twinning" the 80-year-old Ambassador, or building a second span adjacent to the current one, using private funds.

    Plans for a New Detroit River Bridge Hit Roadblock 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • The union of two crystals so as to form a twin. See also naat.

    November 1, 2008