WordGarden.iotwelve
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /twˈɛlv/
US
- /ˈtwɛlv/
Meanings
Determiner
the cardinal number 12
Noun
the number or numeral 12
twelve o'clock
Beyond the definition
This word names the number that comes after eleven and before thirteen. In everyday life, you see it most often when people count things, tell time, or talk about a dozen. A carton can hold twelve eggs, a clock can point to twelve at noon or midnight, and a year is divided into twelve months. It is a common, basic word, but it also carries a sense of a full set in many familiar situations. When you hear it, the meaning is usually simple and practical: a quantity of 12.
The word "twelve" represents the cardinal number equal to one more than eleven. It is a basic part of counting, measuring, and everyday speech. You hear it when people tell time ("It's twelve o'clock"), count objects, give ages, mention dates, or describe a dozen of something, such as twelve roses or twelve eggs. In many everyday contexts, it simply means a quantity of 12.
The number has also had a strong place in systems people use to organize life. We divide the year into twelve months, many clocks show twelve hours, and a foot contains twelve inches. Because 12 can be divided evenly in several ways, it has been useful in counting and measuring for a very long time. This practical usefulness helps explain why it appears so often in daily life.
The word can also appear in set phrases and cultural references. "At the twelfth hour" means at the last possible moment, and "the twelfth man" in sports refers to the fans or extra support behind a team. In stories, religion, and history, the number often appears in groups and lists, which can give it a sense of order or completeness. Even so, its main job in English is straightforward: it names the number 12 in a clear, familiar way.
Examples
- 1
Clock time
The meeting starts at twelve.
- 2
Age
She was twelve when she got her first phone.
- 3
Quantity
A carton usually holds twelve eggs.
- 4
Group size
Twelve of us went out for dinner after class.
- Patternnumber + of us
that many people in our group
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Sports number
He wears number twelve on his shirt.
- 6
Work duration
I just finished a twelve-hour shift.
- Phrasetwelve-hour shift
a work period that lasts twelve hours
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- twelvenounadjective