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# twins

noun, plural (twins; singular: a twin); adjective (twin beds, twin towns)

«twins» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Twins are two children born to the same mother at the same birth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twins/#m1)
2. Identical twins come from one egg that splits, so they look almost the same; non-identical (fraternal) twins come from two eggs and may be a boy and a girl. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twins/#m2)
3. Twin (adjective) means one of a matching pair: «twin beds», «twin towers». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twins/#m3)
4. Twin towns or sister cities are towns in different countries that are friends and visit each other. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twins/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science lessons, twins help explain inheritance: identical twins have the same genes, but they still have different fingerprints and personalities. In maths, twins have the same age, and «twin primes» are primes that differ by 2 (like 11 and 13). In stories twins are often swapped or mistaken for each other. Phrases: «identical twins», «twin brother», «twin sister».

### Examples

- Sam and Lily are twins. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twins/#x1)
- My twin brother was born ten minutes before me. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twins/#x2)
- Identical twins can be hard to tell apart. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twins/#x3)
- The twins have different fingerprints. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twins/#x4)
- We stayed in a room with twin beds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twins/#x5)
- Our town is twinned with a town in France. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twins/#x6)
- Twins have the same birthday. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twins/#x7)
- “And we are your children,” cried the twins. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twins/#x8)

### Note

Singular: a twin («she is a twin», «my twin»). Three babies: triplets; four: quadruplets. Myth: identical twins are exactly the same person — they are two separate people with their own minds. Maths: if twins are 9, together their ages add to 18.

## In Jewish tradition

Twins are born to Rebekah (Jacob and Esau) and to Tamar (Perez and Zerah).

**Interpretation.** Tradition sees Jacob and Esau as opposites from birth, one tied to Israel and one to Edom.

### Examples

- And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. (Torah GEN.25.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/twins/#x1)
- And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. (Torah GEN.38.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/twins/#x2)
- Thy two breasts are like two fawns that are twins of a gazelle. (Writings SNG.7.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/twins/#x3)
- Thy two breasts are like two fawns that are twins of a gazelle, which feed among the lilies. (Writings SNG.4.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/twins/#x4)

### Note

Singular: a twin («she is a twin», «my twin»). Three babies: triplets; four: quadruplets. Myth: identical twins are exactly the same person — they are two separate people with their own minds. Maths: if twins are 9, together their ages add to 18.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «twins» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twins/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«twins» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/twins.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «twins» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/twins/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«twins» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/twins.html) on Mova free.