Twelve: meaning, definitions and examples

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twelve

 

[ twษ›lv ]

Numeral / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Numeral

number

Equivalent to the sum of six and six; one more than eleven; 12.

Synonyms

dozen, duodecad.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
twelve

As this is a repetition of the first word, the context remains the same: Best used in everyday conversations, when referring to the number 12 straightforwardly.

  • There are twelve months in a year.
  • She received twelve roses for her birthday.
dozen

Often used to describe quantities, particularly in commercial or retail settings, or when referring to 12 items collectively.

  • I bought a dozen eggs from the store.
  • A dozen cookies were baked for the party.
duodecad

This term is very old-fashioned and rarely used in modern language. It might appear in historical or academic texts.

  • In ancient times, a duodecad was a common base for counting.

Examples of usage

  • He was twelve years old when he started playing the piano.
  • The clock struck twelve midnight.
Context #2 | Noun

time

Twelve o'clock, either noon or midnight.

Synonyms

midday, midnight.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
twelve

This word is used again as a repetition and likely a clerical error. Refer to the first entry for its context and examples.

midday

Use this term to refer specifically to 12:00 PM, the middle point of the day. It's often used in schedules and to denote a break or specific time of day.

  • Let's meet at midday for lunch.
  • The sun is usually the hottest at midday.
midnight

This term refers specifically to 12:00 AM, the very start of a new day. It is often used in contexts involving time, especially for events happening late at night or early morning.

  • The movie ended at midnight.
  • Cinderella had to leave the ball before midnight.

Examples of usage

  • Let's meet at twelve for lunch.
  • The movie starts at twelve.

Translations

Translations of the word "twelve" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น doze

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฌเคพเคฐเคน

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช zwรถlf

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ dua belas

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะดะฒะฐะฝะฐะดั†ัั‚ัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ dwanaล›cie

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅไบŒ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท douze

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ doce

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท on iki

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์—ด๋‘˜

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงุซู†ุง ุนุดุฑ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ dvanรกct

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ dvanรกsลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅไบŒ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ dvanajst

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ tรณlf

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะพะฝ ะตะบั–

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ—แƒแƒ แƒ›แƒ”แƒขแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ on iki

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ doce

Etymology

The word 'twelve' comes from the Old English word 'twelf', which is a combination of 'two' and 'leof' meaning 'left' or 'remaining'. In many cultures and traditions, twelve holds significance as a complete and perfect number, often representing completion or wholeness. The number is commonly used to represent time with twelve hours on a clock face and twelve months in a year. 'Twelve' is a fundamental numeral in many counting systems and has been an essential part of human language for centuries.

Word Frequency Rank

This word ranks #1,715, placing it within important intermediate vocabulary. Learning it will significantly improve your ability to express yourself in English.