Deuce - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT deuce /dus/ /dus/ IPA guide

Other forms: deuces

A deuce is one of the number two cards in a deck of cards. Or, in tennis, a deuce is a tie that must be broken by someone scoring two points in a row. When playing games, remember that when you hear deuce, it comes down to two.

There are two main meanings of deuce, both of which relate to the number two. The first is a playing card: the two of clubs, diamonds, hearts, or spades is called a deuce. In sports like tennis and ping pong, a deuce is a tie. One player must score two consecutive points to break the deuce and win. This can go on for a while if the players are well-matched. A hard-fought point could feature one deuce after another.

Definitions of deuce

noun the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number synonyms: 2, II, two see moresee less types: craps, snake eyes expressions used when when two dice are thrown and both come up showing one spot brace, couple, couplet, distich, duad, duet, duo, dyad, pair, span, twain, twosome, yoke two items of the same kind doubleton (bridge) a pair of playing cards that are the only cards in their suit in the hand dealt to a player type of: digit, figure one of the elements that collectively form a system of numeration
noun one of the four playing cards in a deck that have two spots synonyms: two see moresee less type of: playing card one of a pack of cards that are used to play card games
noun a tie in tennis or table tennis that requires winning two successive points to win the game see moresee less type of: tie equality of score in a contest
noun a word used in exclamations of confusion “the deuce with it” synonyms: devil, dickens see moresee less type of: exclaiming, exclamation an abrupt excited utterance

Pronunciation US /dus/ UK /dus/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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Vocabulary lists containing deuce

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