Plural vs. Singular — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Plural and Singular
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Compare with Definitions
Plural
The plural (sometimes abbreviated PL), in many languages, is one of the values of the grammatical category of number. The plural of a noun typically denotes a quantity greater than the default quantity represented by that noun.
Singular
Being only one; individual; lone
A singular tree in the meadow.
Plural
Relating to or composed of more than one member, set, or kind
The plural meanings of a text.
A plural society.
Singular
Being the only one of a kind; unique
"Our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared" (Barack Obama).
Plural
(Grammar) Of or being a grammatical form that designates more than one of the things specified.
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Singular
Being beyond what is ordinary, especially in being exceptionally good; remarkable
"Dinners with [our two friends] became the evenings we looked forward to with singular pleasure" (David Halberstam).
Plural
The plural number or form.
Singular
Strange or unusual
"I accordingly obeyed forthwith what I still considered a very singular summons" (Edgar Allan Poe).
Plural
A word or term in the plural form.
Singular
Of, relating to, or being a noun, pronoun, or adjective denoting a single person or thing or several entities considered as a single unit.
Plural
Consisting of or containing more than one of something.
The notion of culture is one whose meanings are plural and shifting.
Singular
Of, relating to, or being a verb expressing the action or state of a single subject.
Plural
(grammar) In systems of number, not singular or not singular or dual.
English nouns usually have singular and plural forms.
Singular
(Logic) Of or relating to the specific as distinguished from the general; individual.
Plural
(comparable) Pluralistic.
Singular
The singular number or a form designating it.
Plural
The plural number. In English, referring to more or less than one of something.
Singular
A word having a singular number.
Plural
A word in the form in which it potentially refers to something other than one person or thing; and other than two things if the language has a dual form.
The plural of 'cat' is 'cats', but the plural of 'child' is 'children'.
Singular
Being only one of a larger population.
A singular experiment cannot be regarded as scientific proof of the existence of a phenomenon.
Plural
A person with some form of multiplicity, particularly dissociative identity disorder.
Singular
Being the only one of the kind; unique.
She has a singular personality.
Plural
Relating to, or containing, more than one; designating two or more; as, a plural word.
Plural faith, which is too much by one.
Singular
Distinguished by superiority: peerless, unmatched, eminent, exceptional, extraordinary.
A man of singular gravity or attainments
Plural
The plural number; that form of a word which expresses or denotes more than one; a word in the plural form.
Singular
Out of the ordinary; curious.
It was very singular; I don't know why he did it.
Plural
The form of a word that is used to denote more than one
Singular
(grammar) Referring to only one thing or person.
Plural
Grammatical number category referring to two or more items or units
Singular
Having no inverse.
Singular
Having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero.
Singular
Not equal to its own cofinality.
Singular
(law) Each; individual.
To convey several parcels of land, all and singular
Singular
(obsolete) Engaged in by only one on a side; single.
Singular
(grammar) A form of a word that refers to only one person or thing.
Singular
(logic) That which is not general; a specific determinate instance.
Singular
Separate or apart from others; single; distinct.
And God forbid that all a companyShould rue a singular man's folly.
Singular
Engaged in by only one on a side; single.
To try the matter thus together in a singular combat.
Singular
Existing by itself; single; individual.
The idea which represents one . . . determinate thing, is called a singular idea, whether simple, complex, or compound.
Singular
Each; individual; as, to convey several parcels of land, all and singular.
Singular
Denoting one person or thing; as, the singular number; - opposed to dual and plural.
Singular
Standing by itself; out of the ordinary course; unusual; uncommon; strange; as, a singular phenomenon.
So singular a sadnessMust have a cause as strange as the effect.
Singular
Distinguished as existing in a very high degree; rarely equaled; eminent; extraordinary; exceptional; as, a man of singular gravity or attainments.
Singular
Departing from general usage or expectations; odd; whimsical; - often implying disapproval or censure.
His zealNone seconded, as out of season judged,Or singular and rash.
To be singular in anything that is wise and worthy, is not a disparagement, but a praise.
Singular
Being alone; belonging to, or being, that of which there is but one; unique.
These busts of the emperors and empresses are all very scarce, and some of them almost singular in their kind.
Singular
An individual instance; a particular.
Singular
The singular number, or the number denoting one person or thing; a word in the singular number.
Singular
The form of a word that is used to denote a singleton
Singular
Unusual or striking;
A remarkable sight
Such poise is singular in one so young
Singular
Beyond or deviating from the usual or expected;
A curious hybrid accent
Her speech has a funny twang
They have some funny ideas about war
Had an odd name
The peculiar aromatic odor of cloves
Something definitely queer about this town
What a rum fellow
Singular behavior
Singular
Being a single and separate person or thing;
Can the singular person be understood apart from his culture?
Every fact in the world might be singular...unlike any other fact and sole of its kind
Singular
Grammatical number category referring to a single item or unit
Singular
The single one of its kind;
A singular example
The unique existing example of Donne's handwriting
A unique copy of an ancient manuscript
Certain types of problems have unique solutions
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