1.single的基本意思是“选出”“挑出”,多指慎重地从若干人〔物〕中间挑选出适合要求的某一个人〔物〕。
2.single只用作及物动词,常与副词out搭配使用。

single out(v.+adv.)
挑出 select from others for special attention, etc.
▲single sb/sth⇔out
They were all to blame, why single him out for punishment?他们全都应该受到责备,为什么单单挑出他来受惩罚?
Why have you singled this out for criticism?你为什么单挑这件事批评?
He singled out in human nature the ugly elements to mock at.他挑选了人性中的丑恶成分来加以嘲讽。
◇ 用于be ～ed 结构
Three other people were singled out for special praise.另外三人被挑选出来给予特别表扬。
He was singled out to succeed his uncle.他被选出来继承他叔叔的产业。

single, choose, collect, elect, pick, select
参见collect条。

你为什么单单批评我?
［误］  Why have you singled me up for criticism?
［正］  Why have you singled me out for criticism?
［析］  single out 是短语动词,作“挑出,选出”解,其中副词 out 不能由 up 替代。

1.single用作名词时,意思是“单程票”,是可数名词。
2.single也可指网球的“单打”。

They quoted 756 dollars for the single New York—London fare.他们对纽约到伦敦的单程机票开价是756美元。
Two-second class singles to Leeds, please.请来两张到利兹的二等车厢单程票。
He bore off the first prize in the men's singles.他获得男子单打冠军。
The men's singles at Beijing last year were exciting.去年北京网球锦标赛男子单打打得真精彩。
One ￡5 note and the other ￡5 in singles, please.请给我一张5英镑和五张一英镑的钞票。
Evenings bring couples and singles for concert.夜晚引得成双成对和单身的男女去听音乐会。

1.single的意思是“单一的,单个的”,指不伴随、不依傍、不参与其他事物。引申可指“单人的; 未婚的,独身的”等。
2.single无比较级和最高级。

用作定语
▲～+n.
They desired their single son to become a pilot.他们想让他们的独生子当飞行员。
The single child of a couple enjoys free medical care.独生子女享受公费医疗。
She had screamed for half an hour and not a single person had come to her aid.她呼叫了半个小时,但没有一个人来帮助她。
The president has not appointed a single black judge to the south.总统从未向南方委派过一个黑人法官。
Hardly a single house was to be seen.几乎连一栋房子也见不到。
Jane is coming to stay with us.Have we another single bed?简要来跟我们同住,还有单人床吗?
A single spark can start a praire fire.星星之火,可以燎原。
Completely cured. Not a single spoton them.瞧!完全恢复了,在他们身上没有一点儿疤痕。
The new furniture cost us every single penny we had.新家具花了我们所有的钱。
There wasn't a single person on the beach.海滩上一个人影都没有。
His single aim was to make money.他唯一的目标是赚钱。
Papa would not permit the waste of a single drop of water.爸爸不允许浪费一滴水。
You'd be surprised at the amount that boy can pack away in a single day.这个男孩子一天的饭量会叫你大吃一惊的。
They covered 120 miles in a single night.他们仅一夜就走了120英里路。
We can't afford wasting a single minute.我们连一分钟也不能浪费。
Not a single one is omitted.没有一个人被遗漏。
We have lumped all the advanced students into a single class.我们已把所有程度高的学生编成了一个班。
Actors have to learn their lines by heart; they mustn't get a single word wrong.演员必须把他们的台词记熟,不得出一点差错。
The single man was tired of instant noodles and ate out for a change.这个单身汉吃腻了方便面,于是下馆子换换口味。
We could not understand why he went to so much trouble for a single nut.我们不理解为什么为了一颗螺帽他会费这么大事。
Not a single boy in the class could get the problem out.班上没有一个学生解得出这道题。
Not a single of speck cloud is to be seen.一朵云也看不见。
用作表语
▲S+be+～
Misfortunes never come single.祸不单行。
Some roses are double; others are single.有些玫瑰是双瓣的,有些是单瓣的。
Are you married or single?你是已婚还是单身?
I wonder why he remains single.我纳闷为什么他不结婚。

single, only, sole
这三个词都有“唯一的”意思。其区别在于：
1.single的意思是“单一的,单个的”,指不伴随、不依傍、不参与其他事物。
2.only与单数可数名词连用时意思是“唯一的”,与复数名词连用时意思是“仅有的”。例如:
That is the only fault to be found with him.那是他身上挑得出来的唯一毛病。
We were the only women there.那儿的女生只有我们几个。
3.sole强调“单独的”,而且只考虑到单独的一个。例如:
The sole survivor of the crash was a little baby.这次撞车的唯一幸存者是一个婴儿。
He is the sales representative with sole responsibility for sales in the North East.他是负责东北地区销售业务的销售代表。
4.语义上, sole>single>only。

［同义词］ v.  choose, cull, pick, select adj.  distinct, exclusive, free, lone, one, singular
［反义词］ adj.  accompanied, several, some, married, wed
［词源］  ＜拉丁语singulus(个人的)