<B>two-bit, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S. Slang.) <DD><B> 1. </B>worth a quarter of a dollar. <BR> <I>Ex. There's a man ... always got a good story and a two-bit cigar for you (Sinclair Lewis).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) cheap; worthless. <BR> <I>Ex. I admit that two-bit judge is short on ritual sense (Saturday Evening Post).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="twobits">
<B>two bits,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Slang.) a quarter of a dollar. <BR> <I>Ex. It was a nickel a ride for pedestrians; two bits for a load of hay (Maclean's).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="twobyfour">
<B>two-by-four, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>measuring two inches or feet by four inches or feet. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Informal, Figurative.) <DD><B> a. </B>small; narrow; limited. <BR> <I>Ex. a two-by-four room.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>small in mind or outlook; petty. <BR> <I>Ex. a two-by-four political hanger-on.</I> <DD><I>noun </I> a piece of lumber formerly four inches wide by two inches thick. Two-by-fours are now about 1 3/4 inches by 3 5/8 inches and are used especially in building. </DL>
<A NAME="twocentsworth">
<B>two cents' worth,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S. Slang.) a statement of opinion or point of view. <BR> <I>Ex. He is an expert chairman, keeping the discussion firmly to the point and yet giving each speaker the feeling that he is getting in his two cents' worth (New Yorker).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="twocultures">
<B>two cultures,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> Usually, <B>the two cultures.</B> the arts and humanities, or social sciences, on one hand, and the physical sciences and engineering technology on the other, viewed as two distinct and often conflicting cultures in modern society. <BR> <I>Ex. The conference called on UNESCO to convene a worldwide conference that might be instrumental in narrowing the gap between the two cultures (New Scientist).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="twocycle">
<B>two-cycle, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>completing a series of operations in two cycles or strokes, as an internal-combustion engine. <DD><B> 2. </B>of or having to do with a two-cycle engine. <DD><I>noun </I> a cycle of two strokes in an internal-combustion engine. </DL>
<A NAME="twodimensional">
<B>two-dimensional, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>having only two dimensions. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) lacking depth; superficial. <BR> <I>Ex. The inherent weakness of the American Western novel, according to students of that popular literary theme, is that it is two-dimensional (Newsweek).</I> adv. <B>two-dimensionally.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="twodimensionality">
<B>two-dimensionality, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the quality or condition of being two-dimensional. </DL>
<A NAME="twoedged">
<B>two-edged, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>having two edges, especially having two cutting edges, one on each side of the blade; cutting both ways. <BR> <I>Ex. a two-edged sword.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) effective either way; double-edged, especially: <DD><B> a. </B>that supports or may be used in support of either side. <BR> <I>Ex. a two-edged argument.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>that may be reversed or sharply altered in order to achieve a purpose. <BR> <I>Ex. two-edged policy.</I> </DL>
<B>twofer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S. Slang.) <DD><B> 1a. </B>a pair of theater tickets sold for roughly the price of one. <DD><B> b. </B>a coupon for obtaining such tickets. <DD><B> 2. </B>any item sold at two for the price of one. <BR> <I>Ex. twofer cigars.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="twofisted">
<B>two-fisted, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Informal.) <DD><B> 1. </B>having two fists and able to use them. <BR> <I>Ex. a two-fisted cowboy.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) strong; vigorous. <BR> <I>Ex. a two-fisted attack on crime. You tell him that no two-fisted enterprising Westerner would have New York for a gift (Sinclair Lewis).</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) such as appeals to persons of simple and virile taste. <BR> <I>Ex. a two-fisted romance of the high seas.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="twofold">
<B>twofold, </B>adjective, adverb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>two times as much or as many; twice as great; double. <DD><B> 2. </B>having two parts; dual. <BR> <I>Ex. a twofold shipment, part coming now and the rest later.</I> <DD><I>adv. </I> two times as much or as many; doubly. </DL>
<A NAME="twoforked">
<B>two-forked, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having two dimensions or branches like the prongs of a fork; bifurcate; dichotomous. <BR> <I>Ex. (Figurative.) a two-forked argument.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="twofour">
<B>two-four, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (of a musical time or rhythm) with two quarter notes to a measure. </DL>
<A NAME="2,4d">
<B>2,4-D, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a poisonous, crystalline substance used to kill weeds. </DL>
<A NAME="2,4,5t">
<B>2,4,5-T, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a poisonous, crystalline substance used to kill weeds. </DL>
<A NAME="twogun">
<B>two-gun, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> carrying or skillful in using two guns at the same time. <BR> <I>Ex. a two-gun cowboy.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="twohanded">
<B>two-handed, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>having two hands. <DD><B> 2. </B>using both hands equally well; ambidextrous. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) skillful with the hands; dexterous. <DD><B> 4. </B>involving the use of both hands; requiring both hands to wield or manage. <BR> <I>Ex. a two-handed sword.</I> <DD><B> 5. </B>requiring two persons to operate. <BR> <I>Ex. a two-handed saw.</I> <DD><B> 6. </B>engaged in or played by two persons. <BR> <I>Ex. a two-handed game.</I> <DD><B> 7. </B>(Obsolete.) big; bulky; strapping. noun <B>two-handedness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="twohigh">
<B>two-high, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with a rolling mill having two rollers, one over the other, or with the rollers themselves. </DL>
<A NAME="twomaster">
<B>two-master, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> any sailing vessel with two masts. </DL>
<A NAME="twominded">
<B>two-minded, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> vacillating between two intentions; having ambivalent or conflicting attitudes. <BR> <I>Ex. He is two-minded about going to the party without a formal invitation.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="twoname">
<B>two-name, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Banking.) signed by two people. <BR> <I>Ex. a two-name note.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="twonamepaper">
<B>two-name paper,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Banking.) negotiable papers such as bills or notes, signed by two people, usually a maker and an endorser, both of whom are held liable. </DL>
<A NAME="twoness">
<B>twoness, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the quality of being two; duality; doubleness. </DL>
<A NAME="twoocat">
<B>two-o-cat</B> or <B>two-o'-cat, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a ball game similar to one-o-cat, but with two batters on a side instead of one. </DL>
<A NAME="twooldcat">
<B>two old cat,</B> <B>=two-o-cat.</B></DL>
<A NAME="twoparttime">
<B>two-part time,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Music.) a time or rhythm with two, or a multiple of two, beats to the measure. </DL>
<A NAME="twopartysystem">
<B>two-party system,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the condition or system of political balance that has prevailed historically in the United States, Great Britain (since the 1600's), and certain other countries, especially in the English-speaking world, under which normally in an election one or the other of two major political parties is certain to win. </DL>
<A NAME="twopence">
<B>twopence, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>two British pennies; two pence. <DD><B> 2. </B>a British silver coin worth two pence (since 1662 minted only on special occasions). <DD><B> 3. </B>a British copper coin worth two pence (minted in the reign of George III). Also, <B>tuppence.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="twopenny">
<B>twopenny, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>worth, costing, or amounting to twopence. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) of very little value; paltry; trifling; worthless. Also, <B>tuppenny.</B> </DL>
<B>two-piece, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> consisting of two parts made to be worn together. <BR> <I>Ex. a two-piece dress, a two-piece bathing suit.</I> <DD><I>noun </I> a two-piece garment. </DL>
<A NAME="twopiecer">
<B>two-piecer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a two-piece garment. </DL>
<A NAME="twoply">
<B>two-ply, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having two thicknesses, folds, layers, or strands. </DL>
<A NAME="twoport">
<B>two-port, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>having two ports. <DD><B> 2. </B>of or having to do with a type of two-cycle internal-combustion engine, common in marine use, in which the crankcase admission port of the three-port type of engine is dispensed with, and for it is substituted a kind of suction valve leading to the crankcase. </DL>
<B>two-seater, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a car or airplane with a seat for two persons. <BR> <I>Ex. The tiny two-seater has a ... two-cylinder engine (Wall Street Journal).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="twosided">
<B>two-sided, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having two sides; bilateral. <BR> <I>Ex. (Figurative.) [Theirs] was a two-sided friendship (Scientific American).</I> noun <B>two-sidedness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="twosome">
<B>twosome, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a group of two people; two persons together. <DD><B> 2a. </B>a game or match, especially in golf, in which two play. <DD><B> b. </B>the players. <DD><I>adj. </I> played by two players, especially two golfers. </DL>
<A NAME="twostep">
<B>two-step, </B>noun, verb, <B>-stepped,</B> <B>-stepping.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a ballroom dance in march or polka rhythm, performed with sliding steps. <DD><B> 2. </B>music for it. <DD><I>v.i. </I> to dance the two-step. </DL>
<A NAME="twosuiter">
<B>two-suiter, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a man's suitcase that holds two suits and accessories. <BR> <I>Ex. His two-suiter ... was adorned with the baggage tags of many airlines (New Yorker).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>a hand in bridge containing two suits with at least five cards in each. </DL>
<A NAME="twothirdsrule">
<B>two-thirds rule,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S.) a former rule of the Democratic Party which required the vote of two-thirds of the delegates at a convention to nominate a candidate for the presidency. </DL>
