What does doubler mean?
A doubler is a noun formed from the verb 'double' and refers to anything or anyone that makes something twice as great in size, amount, strength, or frequency. The word appears most often in technical contexts: in electronics, a voltage doubler is a circuit that converts an input voltage into roughly twice that output using capacitors and diodes rather than a bulky transformer, while a frequency doubler produces a signal at twice its input frequency. Outside engineering, the term has older theatrical use, describing an actor who takes on two roles in the same play. Because English speakers usually prefer the simpler forms 'double' or 'doubling' in ordinary conversation, 'doubler' carries a somewhat specialist register. It is nonetheless a useful, precise word wherever duplication is performed by a distinct agent, mechanism, or component rather than being described as a general action.
nounA person or thing that doubles something, or an electronic device or circuit that produces an output at twice a given frequency or voltage.
- A person or thing that makes something twice as large, strong, or numerous
- An electronic circuit or device, such as a voltage doubler or frequency doubler, whose output is twice its input
"The amplifier's voltage doubler allowed the circuit to run from a single battery cell."
"She worked as a doubler in the theatre, stepping in to play two minor roles in the same production."
"The power supply uses a voltage doubler to generate 24 volts from a 12-volt input."
Standard regular plural; used when referring to multiple devices or people.
"The design uses two cascaded voltage doublers to quadruple the input."
In electronics, a humble 'voltage doubler' can turn one battery's worth of power into two — no transformer required, just clever capacitors.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of doubler
Doubler derives from the verb 'double', which entered Middle English from Old French 'doubler', itself from Late Latin 'duplare' or 'duplicare', built on Latin 'duplex', meaning twofold. Latin 'duplex' combines 'duo' (two) with '-plex' (fold), making 'doubler' a cousin of words like 'duplicate' and 'duplex'. The agent-noun suffix '-er' was added in English to name one who or that which doubles.
How doubler is actually used
Mostly technical or specialized; in everyday speech the base form 'double' is far more common. In theatre, a 'doubler' is an actor who plays more than one role in a production.
Easily confused with doubler
'Double' is the adjective or verb meaning twofold or to make twice as much, while 'doubler' is a noun naming the person or device that performs that action.