twinning

Meanings

1. 1noununcountablemedical

   The process of having twins, or the fact that twins are born in a family.

   Grammar: Not used with a: twinning runs in some families.

   Patterns

   • twinning in something
   • twinning runs in the family

   Twinning runs in her family, so the doctors expected it.

   Fertility treatment can increase the chance of twinning.

   Researchers studied twinning among different species of cattle.

2. 2nouncountable or uncountableBritish

   A formal friendship agreement between two towns in different countries, with visits and exchanges.

   Grammar: Used mostly in British English: the twinning of two towns.

   Patterns

   • the twinning of something with something
   • a twinning association

   The town celebrated its twinning with a German village.

   A twinning association organizes yearly school exchanges.

   The twinning of the two cities began after the war.

3. 3noununcountableformal

   The pairing of two things so that they work together or are closely linked.

   Grammar: Often followed by of: the twinning of two systems.

   Patterns

   • the twinning of something and something

   The twinning of the two hospitals improved patient care.

   Engineers described the twinning of the two engines as essential for safety.

   The program's twinning of schools helped both communities.

4. 4noununcountableinformal

   The playful habit of two people dressing in matching or similar outfits.

   Grammar: Used with a joking tone in casual talk: we were twinning today.

   Patterns

   • twinning with someone
   • twinning at something

   Look at us, twinning in the same red coats!

   The sisters enjoyed twinning for the family photo.

   Twinning at the party made everyone laugh.

Common combinations

town twinning

Town twinning links people across borders.

twinning association

The twinning association arranges the summer trip.

twinning agreement

The two councils signed a twinning agreement.

twinning visit

A twinning visit brought a choir from France.

twinning runs in the family

Twinning runs in the family on her mother's side.

Synonyms and how they differ

pairing

Pairing is the general word for matching two things and does not suggest a special partnership.

partnership

Partnership is broader and may include business, while twinning suggests a formal link between places.

matching

Matching refers to similarity of look or character, so it is plainer than twinning.

linking

Linking only shows a connection and does not suggest the two being equals.

Opposites

Word family

twin noun

one of two children born at the same birth

twin adjective

forming a pair, as in twin beds

twinned adjective

paired or joined with another, as in twinned towns

twin verb

to link or pair two things or places

Commonly confused: twinning or twining?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “twinning”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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