| double | 1. To increase by adding an equal number, quantity, length, value, or the like; multiply by two; to double a sum of money; to double a number, or length. "Double six thousand, and then treble that." (Shak) 2. To make of two thicknesses or folds by turning or bending together in the middle; to fold one part upon another part of; as, to double the leaf of a book, and the like; to clinch, as the fist; often followed by up; as, to double up a sheet of paper or cloth. "Then the old man Was wroth, and doubled up his hands." (Tennyson) 3. To be the double of; to exceed by twofold; to contain or be worth twice as much as. "Thus reenforced, against the adverse fleet, Still doubling ours, brave Rupert leads the way." (Dryden) 4. To pass around or by; to march or sail round, so as to reverse the direction of motion. "Sailing along the coast, the doubled the promontory of Carthage." (Knolles) 5. To unite, as ranks or files, so as to form one from each two. Origin: OE. Doblen, dublen, doublen, F. Doubler, fr. L. Duplare, fr. Duplus. See Double. 1. Twice as much; twice the number, sum, quantity, length, value, and the like. "If the thief be found, let him pay double." (Ex. Xxii. 7) 2. Among compositors, a doublet (see Doublet. 2); among pressmen, a sheet that is twice pulled, and blurred. 3. That which is doubled over or together; a doubling; a plait; a fold. "Rolled up in sevenfold double Of plagues." (Marston) 4. A turn or circuit in running to escape pursues; hence, a trick; a shift; an artifice. "These men are too well acquainted with the chase to be flung off by any false steps or doubles." (Addison) 5. Something precisely equal or counterpart to another; a counterpart. Hence, a wraith. "My charming friend . . . Has, I am almost sure, a double, who preaches his afternoon sermons for him." (Atlantic Monthly) 6. A player or singer who prepares to take the part of another player in his absence; a substitute. 7. Double beer; strong beer. 8. A feast in which the antiphon is doubled, hat is, said twice, before and after the Psalms, instead of only half being said, as in simple feasts. 9. A game between two pairs of players; as, a first prize for doubles. 10. An old term for a variation, as in Bach's Suites. 1. Twofold; multiplied by two; increased by its equivalent; made twice as large or as much, etc. "Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me." (2 Kings II. 9) "Darkness and tempest make a double night." (Dryden) 2. Being in pairs; presenting two of a kind, or two in a set together; coupled. "[Let] The swan, on still St. Mary's lake, Float double, swan and shadow." (Wordsworth) 3. Divided into two; acting two parts, one openly and the other secretly; equivocal; deceitful; insincere. "With a double heart do they speak." (Ps. Xii. 2) 4. <botany> Having the petals in a flower considerably increased beyond the natural number, usually as the result of cultivation and the expense of the stamens, or stamens and pistils. The white water lily and some other plants have their blossoms naturally double. Double is often used as the first part of a compound word, generally denoting two ways, or twice the number, quantity, force, etc, twofold, or having two. Double base, or Double bass . Same as Double-quick. Double window, a window having two sets of glazed sashes with an air space between them. Origin: OE. Doble, duble, double, OF. Doble, duble, double, F. Double, fr. L. Duplus, fr. The root of duo two, and perh. That of plenus full; akin to Gr. Double. See Two, and Full, and cf. Diploma, Duple. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| double antibody immunoassay | A method of separating antibody-bound antigen (e.g., insulin) from free antigen by precipitating the former with antibody specific for immunoglobulin. Synonym: double antibody immunoassay, double antibody method. (05 Mar 2000) |
| double antibody method | A method of separating antibody-bound antigen (e.g., insulin) from free antigen by precipitating the former with antibody specific for immunoglobulin. Synonym: double antibody immunoassay, double antibody method. (05 Mar 2000) |
| double antibody precipitation | A method of separating antibody-bound antigen (e.g., insulin) from free antigen by precipitating the former with antibody specific for immunoglobulin. Synonym: double antibody immunoassay, double antibody method. (05 Mar 2000) |
| double antibody sandwich assay | For antigen; an application of the ELISA method in which material being tested for antigen is added to wells coated with known antibody; the presence of antigen fixed to the antibody coat can be determined either directly, by adding human antibody linked to the enzyme of the indicator system, or indirectly, by first adding unlabelled known antibody, the attachment of which to the antigen can be demonstrated by addition of immunoglobulin-specific antibody linked to the enzyme. (05 Mar 2000) |
| double aortic arch | Congenital malformation of the aorta that splits and has a right and a left arch instead of a single arch. (05 Mar 2000) |
| double aortic stenosis | Subaortic stenosis associated with stenosis of the valve itself, both lesions being congenital. (05 Mar 2000) |
| double athetosis | A type of cerebral palsy manifested predominantly as bilateral involuntary movements, beginning at about the age of 3 years, and preceded by generalised hypotonia and delayed motor development. Due to various causes, including kernicterus and birth hypoxia. Synonym: congenital choreoathetosis, double congenital athetosis, Vogt syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| double back cross | A mating that is a back cross at each of two loci of interest; of special value and importance in linkage analysis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| double bind | A type of personal interaction in which one receives two mutually conflicting verbal or nonverbal instructions or demands from the same person or different individuals, resulting in a situation in which either compliance or noncompliance with either alternative threatens one of the needed relationships. (05 Mar 2000) |
| double bind theory | Contradictions in verbal and behavioural communication between parent and child (patient) which entrap the child because he is unable to comment on the incongruity or to escape from the situation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| double-blind | <statistics> A kind of clinical study in which neither the participants nor the person administering treatment know which treatment any particular subject is receiving. Usually the comparison is between an experimental drug and a placebo or standard comparison treatment. This method is believed to achieve the most accuracy because neither the doctor nor the patient can affect the observed results with their psychological bias. (10 Oct 1997) |
| double-blind experiment | <statistics> An experiment conducted with neither experimenter nor subjects knowing which experiment is the control; prevents bias in recording results. See: double-masked experiment. (05 Mar 2000) |
| double-blind method | <statistics> A method of studying a drug or procedure in which both the subjects and investigators are kept unaware of who is actually getting which specific treatment. (12 Dec 1998) |
| double-blind study | A study in which neither the experimenter nor any other assessor of the results, including patients, know which group is subject to which procedure, thus helping assure that the biases or expectations of either will not influence the results. (05 Mar 2000) |