Meaning & use
two-piece
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Made up of two separate parts that are sold or worn together, especially clothes.
Grammar: Goes before a noun: a two-piece suit.
Patterns
- a two-piece suit
- a two-piece outfit
He wore a gray two-piece suit to the interview.
She bought a two-piece swimsuit for the beach.
The two-piece pajama set came in a gift box.
nouncountable
A set of clothes made up of two matching parts, such as a skirt and jacket or a bikini.
Grammar: Used as a noun, often meaning a swimsuit: she wore a two-piece.
Patterns
- wear a two-piece
She chose a red two-piece for the cruise.
He looked sharp in a navy two-piece.
The store sells a two-piece in every size.
nouncountableinformal
A small band or group of two musicians.
Grammar: Informal; used in music: a two-piece band.
Patterns
- a two-piece band
The two-piece played in a tiny club.
A two-piece from Detroit opened the show.
They started as a two-piece before adding a bassist.
Word forms
| plural | two-pieces |
|---|
Common combinations
- two-piece suit
- A two-piece suit has a jacket and trousers.
- two-piece swimsuit
- She packed a two-piece swimsuit.
- two-piece band
- The two-piece band had a big sound.
- two-piece set
- The two-piece set is comfortable.
- two-piece outfit
- The two-piece outfit matched her shoes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bikini
- A bikini is a specific type of swimsuit, while two-piece is any two-part outfit.
- duo
- Duo means two performers, and it does not describe clothing.
- matching set
- A matching set could have more than two parts.
Opposites
Word family
- one-piece adjective
- made in a single part
- three-piece adjective
- made up of three parts
- piece noun
- a part or bit of something
Practice
A two-piece suit usually consists of which items?
Choose one answer.
A two-piece suit has two matching parts, a jacket and trousers or skirt. A vest would make it three-piece.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “two-piece”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.