the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one. It is a prime number
See also number (sense 1)
2.
a numeral, 2, II, (ii), etc, representing this number
3. music
the numeral 2 used as the lower figure in a time signature, indicating that the beat is measured in minims
4.
something representing, represented by, or consisting of two units, such as a playingcard with two symbols on it
5. Also called: two o'clock
two hours after noon or midnight
6. in two
7. put two and two together
8. that makes two of us
determiner
9.
a.
amounting to two
two nails
b.
(as pronoun)
he bought two
▶ Related adjectives: , , ▶ Related prefixes: , binary, double, dual, di-, bi-
Word origin
Old English twā (feminine); related to Old High German zwā, Old Norse tvau, Latin, Greek duo
two in American English
(tu)
adjective
1.
totaling one more than one
noun
2.
the cardinal number between one and three; 2; II
3.
any two people or things; pair; couple
4.
something numbered two or having two units, as a playing card, domino, face of a die, etc.
5. Basketball
two-pointer
Idioms:
in two
put two and two together
Word origin
ME two, tu < OE twa, fem. & neut., tu, neut., akin to Ger zwei < IE base *dwōu-, two > L duo, two, Gr duo, Sans dvau
More idioms containing
two
stand on your own two feet
the lesser of two evils
your two cents' worth
kill two birds with one stone
ride two horses at the same time
like two peas in a pod
take someone down a peg or two
not have two pennies to rub together
your two penn'orth
two a penny
in two shakes of a lamb's tail
two sides of the same coin
fall between two stools
it takes two to tango
thick as two short planks
be two of a kind
put two and two together
serve two masters
in two minds
Examples of 'two' in a sentence
two
They have now won just two of their last eight games and goalscoring remains a problem.
The Sun (2016)
Consumer spending accounts for about two thirds of national output.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Then two people or groups can stay in step to move forward.
The Sun (2016)
But to come away from the two games top of our qualifying group was the main objective.
The Sun (2016)
Yet the number two position is now occupied by low back and neck pain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What was the impulse behind putting the two pieces together?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We play with two strikers and one behind.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Those planted within the past two or three years should be relatively easy to lift and move.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We have been calling for this for a long time as the two work hand in hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We look at a selection of coastal spots that put you within two hours of decent skiing.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
They put it up after two people complained they had been hit on the head.
The Sun (2010)
There was a hint of regret at the mention of two that got away.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Being a number two is a way to stay connected or to reconnect with elite management.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We worked together for two years before we got married.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Genetic mutation is one of two main sources of genetic variability in populations of organisms.
Sanderson, Stephen K. Macrosociology: An Introduction to Human Societies (1995)
He still rides two or three times a week.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
To do this we put two resolutions to shareholders.
Thompson, Sir Peter Sharing the Success - the story of NFC (1990)
Your neighbours have two main direct legal rights that could interfere with the work.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The data showed that two thirds of the marriages were the first for both parties.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Prices based on two people sharing a twin room.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The closest beaches are two miles away.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The two together tell us where certain activities should be placed.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
And he showed why by wasting not one but two opportunities.
The Sun (2014)
There are persistent blind spots that many reviewers of his work have noted over the past two decades.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
What a roller-coaster ride it has been over the last two decades.
The Sun (2013)
Use them all to spell two numbers, then add them together.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There remains point in argument about the past: for two reasons.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
two
British English: two /tuː/ NUMBER
Two is the number 2.
... two pieces of cake.
American English: two
Arabic: اِثْنان
Brazilian Portuguese: dois
Chinese: 二
Croatian: dva
Czech: dvě
Danish: to
Dutch: twee
European Spanish: dos
Finnish: kaksi
French: deux
German: zwei
Greek: δύο
Italian: due
Japanese: 二
Korean: 2
Norwegian: to
Polish: dwa
European Portuguese: dois
Romanian: doi
Russian: два
Latin American Spanish: dos
Swedish: två
Thai: สอง
Turkish: iki
Ukrainian: два
Vietnamese: hai
All related terms of 'two'
in two
in or into two parts
two-up
a gambling game in which two coins are tossed or spun . Bets are made on both coins landing with the same face uppermost
one-two
a jab with the leading hand followed by a cross with the other hand
two-bit
You use two-bit to describe someone or something that you have no respect for or that you think is inferior .
two-ply
made of two thicknesses, layers , or strands
two-way
Two-way means moving or working in two opposite directions or allowing something to move or work in two opposite directions.
forty-two
a cardinal number, 40 plus 2
sixty-two
the number that is between sixty-one and sixty-three; a numeral , 62, etc, representing sixty-two
two bits
twenty-five cents
two cents
a person's opinion
two-cycle
relating to or designating an internal-combustion engine whose piston makes two strokes for every explosion
two-door
(of a car) having two doors
two-edged
having two cutting edges
two-faced
If you describe someone as two-faced , you are critical of them because they say they do or believe one thing when their behaviour or words show that they do not do it or do not believe it.
two-four
a box containing 24 bottles of beer
two-horse
If you describe a contest as a two-horse race , you mean that only two of the people or things taking part have any chance of winning .
two-line
(formerly) denoting double the normal size of printer's type
two-pack
(of a paint , filler , etc) supplied as two separate components , for example a base and a catalyst , that are mixed together immediately before use
two-party
(of a political system) dominated by two major political parties
two-phase
(of an electrical circuit , device, etc) generating or using two alternating voltages of the same frequency , displaced in phase by 90°
two-piece
You can use two-piece to describe something, especially a set of clothing, that is in two parts.
two-plies
made of two thicknesses, layers, or strands
two-shot
a medium-range camera shot of two persons
two-sided
having two sides or aspects
two-speed
(of a transmission system) having two settings
two-spot
a card with two pips ; two; deuce
two-star
leaded petrol that has a low octane number; inferior leaded petrol
two-step
an old-time dance in duple time
two-tier
involving or comprising two levels of structure, policy, etc
two-time
to deceive (someone, esp a lover ) by carrying on a relationship with another
two-tone
of two colours or two shades of the same colour
two-tooth
a sheep between one and two years old with two permanent incisor teeth
number two
the act or an instance of defecation
two-fisted
strong, tough , and vigorous
two-handed
A two-handed blow or catch is done using both hands.
two-hander
a play for two actors
two-legged
having two legs
Two Oceans
an annual road marathon run in Cape Town, South Africa
two o'clock
→ another name for two (sense 5 ) → See also eight
two-pointer
a shot from inside or on the three point line, worth two points if it is made
two-seater
a vehicle providing seats for two people
two-storey
(of a building) having two floors or levels
two-stroke
relating to or designating an internal-combustion engine whose piston makes two strokes for every explosion
two-suiter
a suitcase designed to hold two suits and additional smaller items
two-tailed
(of a significance test) concerned with the hypothesis that an observed value of a sampling statistic differs significantly from a given value, where an error in either direction is relevant : for instance, in testing the fairness of scales , an inspector will seek to exclude both overweight and underweight goods
two-thirds
Two-thirds of something is an amount that is two out of three equal parts of it.
two-wheeler
a vehicle with two wheels, esp a bicycle
one or two
One or two means a few.
two-cylinder
(of an engine) having two cylinders
two penn'orth
During a discussion about something, if you have your two penn'orth or put in your two penn'orth , you add your own opinion .
Chinese translation of 'two'
two
(tuː)
num
二 (èr)
two by two, in twos两(兩)两(兩)成群 (liǎngliǎng chéng qún)
to put two and two together (fig) 根据(據)事实(實)推断(斷) (gēnjù shìshí tuīduàn)