twelve

twelve — noun

1. the number between eleven and thirteen, written as 12. It is the number of month

1.nounA1
Definition

the number between eleven and thirteen, written as 12. It is the number of months in a year, hours on a clock face, and items in a dozen.

Example

There are twelve eggs in a full carton when you buy a dozen.

collocation: a dozen = twelve items, especially eggs or roses

The clock struck twelve just as Ishaan finished his homework.

Common collocations
  • twelve o'clock
  • twelve months
  • twelve inches
  • twelve years old
  • twelve people
  • twelve dollars
Synonyms
  • dozen

    used for countable items (eggs, roses); more informal and specific to sets of exactly 12

Grammar Patterns

twelve + [plural noun]

number + twelve

Common Mistakes

I have twelves apples.
I have twelve apples.
when used before a noun, 'twelve' never takes a plural -s.
There are twelve of apple.
There are twelve apples.
'twelve' requires a plural noun after it, not a singular noun with 'of'.

2. a set of twelve people or things considered together as a unit.

2.nounB1
Definition

a set of twelve people or things considered together as a unit.

Example

The jury was made up of twelve ordinary citizens chosen to hear the case.

collocation: a jury of twelve

Minho's basketball team has twelve players on the roster this season.

Common collocations
  • group of twelve
  • set of twelve
  • jury of twelve
  • team of twelve
Synonyms
  • dozen

    more common for everyday countable items; slightly informal

Grammar Patterns

the twelve

a/the twelve + [plural noun]

group/set of twelve

Usage Note

Often used with the definite article: 'the twelve' refers to a specific group. Common in legal contexts (a jury of twelve), sports (a team of twelve), and retail (a dozen items).

3. the thing that is number twelve in a numbered series, such as a page, a size, or

3.nounB1
Definition

the thing that is number twelve in a numbered series, such as a page, a size, or a channel.

Example

Page twelve of the atlas shows a detailed map of the whole continent.

pattern: [noun] + twelve for numbered items (page twelve, size twelve)

Gabriel's bus stop is number twelve on the school bus route.

Common collocations
  • page twelve
  • channel twelve
  • size twelve
  • number twelve
  • bus number twelve
Synonyms
  • twelfth

    the ordinal form; used in slightly different grammatical patterns ('the twelfth page' vs. 'page twelve')

Grammar Patterns

[noun] + twelve

Usage Note

Common after nouns that refer to ordered items. Unlike the cardinal use, 'twelve' here names a position rather than a quantity.

Common Mistakes

Turn to twelve page.
Turn to page twelve.
when specifying a numbered item, the number comes after the noun.

4. in the Christian Bible, the twelve men that Jesus chose to be his closest follow

4.nounC1
Definition

in the Christian Bible, the twelve men that Jesus chose to be his closest followers and to spread his teachings.

Example

According to the Gospel stories, Jesus called the Twelve to travel with him and learn from him.

capitalised: 'the Twelve' as a proper name

Folake learned about the Twelve at Sunday school and could name each disciple.

Common collocations
  • the Twelve
  • the twelve disciples
  • the twelve apostles
Synonyms
  • apostles

    the formal theological term; used more broadly for early Christian leaders, not only the original twelve

  • disciples

    a broader term that includes any follower of Jesus, not just the original Twelve

Grammar Patterns

the Twelve

Usage Note

Usually written with a capital T when referring specifically to the apostles. Distinguish from sense 2 (GROUP OF 12), which refers to any group of twelve.

5. in the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament), a collection of twelve shorter books of

5.nounC2
Definition

in the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament), a collection of twelve shorter books of the prophets, including Hosea, Amos, and Micah, often treated as a single unit.

Example

In Jewish tradition, the Twelve are written on one scroll and read during certain holy days.

capitalised: 'the Twelve' referring to a biblical book collection

The seminary course covered the Twelve, from Hosea through Malachi.

Common collocations
  • the Twelve
  • the twelve minor prophets
  • the book of the Twelve

Grammar Patterns

the Twelve

Word family

  • twelfth
    adjectiveA2
  • twelfth
    nounA2
  • twelvefold
    adjectiveC1
  • twelvefold
    adverbC1
  • twelvemonth
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Both 'twelve' and 'dozen' refer to the quantity 12, but they differ in use and tone. 'Twelve' is the neutral, everyday number used in any context: telling time ('twelve o'clock'), counting ('twelve eggs'), or ages ('twelve years old'). 'Dozen' is a collective noun used mainly for countable physical items sold or grouped in sets of 12, such as eggs, roses, doughnuts, or cookies. You would say 'a dozen eggs' but not 'a dozen months' — for abstract or calendar uses, 'twelve' is the natural choice. 'Dozen' also has a slightly informal feel and is common in shopping and baking contexts ('bake a dozen cookies'). In formal or scientific writing, 'twelve' is preferred.

twelve ↗dozen ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • twelve o'clock
  • twelve months
  • twelve years
  • twelve inches
  • twelve dollars
  • twelve people
  • twelve items

Adverbs

  • around twelve
  • about twelve
  • nearly twelve
  • almost twelve
  • exactly twelve

Phrases

  • ten to twelve
  • twelve or more
  • twelve in total
  • all twelve
  • the full twelve

Prepositions

  • at twelve
  • by twelve
  • of twelve
  • over twelve
  • under twelve

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'twelve' comes from Old English 'twelf', which traces back to a Proto-Germanic compound meaning 'two left' — that is, two remaining after counting to ten. The first part relates to 'two', and the second part comes from a root meaning 'to leave' or 'remain'. This way of forming the word for 12 is shared by other Germanic languages: German 'zwölf', Dutch 'twaalf', and Swedish 'tolv'.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1