singles

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of single.

   Several of his early singles topped the charts.

   The cashier counted out a thick stack of singles.

   Note

   One regular plural covers a surprisingly mixed set of nouns. These include records and songs, people without a partner, one-run scores, baseball hits that reach first base, and domino-style tiles with different pips at each end. Context settles which is meant. Three singles in a box score are hits, three singles on the charts are songs, and the -s plural is the same in every case.

2. 2
   noununcountableplural

   A racket-sport match contested between two individual opponents, one on each side, rather than between pairs.

   The men's singles drew the largest crowd of the tournament.

   After years of doubles, she switched to singles to test herself.

   Oppositedoubles

   Note

   A sports word that exists only in the plural. One match is still a singles match, or simply the singles, never a single. It names a format of play rather than a single contest, which is why it attaches so readily to event labels such as men's singles and women's singles. It is spelled the same as the ordinary plural noun, but it has no singular partner.

3. 3
   adjective

   Relating to unmarried people, especially the venues, events, and social scenes aimed at them.

   The bar markets itself as a singles hotspot on weekends.

   She joined a singles club hoping to meet someone new.

   Note

   A plural-looking form that works as a modifier and keeps its -s even before a noun: a singles bar, not a single bar. The plural form is what signals unmarried people here, since a single bar would mean just one bar. It has no degrees, so nothing is more singles or most singles than anything else.

4. 4
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of single.

   The committee singles one proposal out for further review.

   Their leadoff hitter singles sharply down the third-base line.

   Note

   The verb form shares its spelling with the plural noun, so only the sentence shows which one it is. Behind it lies a wide verb. It can mean hitting for one base, thinning out, moving in the singlefoot gait, or reducing a railway to single track, which takes an object. In everyday use it most often appears with out, as in singles out. The meanings of sequestering oneself or taking things one by one are archaic.

5. 5
   nounAustraliacountable

   Tubular bicycle tires: ones stitched closed around the inner tube and cemented directly to the rim, favored by racers for low weight and rolling resistance.

   Most pros still race on singles despite the hassle of gluing them.

   She carries a spare set of singles for long road races.

   Similartubulars

   Note

   Australian cycling slang for the tires most of the cycling world calls tubulars. An Australian rider talking about racing on singles means exactly what a rider elsewhere means by tubulars. Outside Australia the word is easily misread, so when writing for an international readership, tubulars is the safer choice.

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