double-click
B1Technical, Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To press a button on a mouse or other pointing device twice in rapid succession.
To select or activate an item on a computer screen by pressing a mouse button twice quickly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The action implies two distinct clicks within a specific, short timeframe. It is distinct from 'click' (single action) and 'right-click' (contextual action).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English often hyphenates ('double-click'), while American English may use both hyphenated or solid forms ('doubleclick'), though the hyphenated version is dominant in formal writing. Vocabulary: British English may use 'programme' in examples, while American uses 'program'.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both variants. It is a neutral technical term.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects due to global tech influence.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
double-click (on) [OBJECT]double-click [OBJECT] to [ACTION]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Double-click on an opportunity (metaphorical extension, rare)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in instructions for software training or when guiding colleagues through digital processes.
Academic
Used in computer science literature and in instructions for using research software.
Everyday
Common in instructions for using personal computers, smartphones, and apps.
Technical
A fundamental command in human-computer interaction (HCI) and user interface (UI) design.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- You need to double-click the programme icon to launch it.
- Double-click on the folder to see its contents.
American English
- Just double-click the program icon to open it.
- Double-click the header to resize the column.
adjective
British English
- The double-click speed can be adjusted in settings.
- It requires a double-click action.
American English
- Adjust the double-click speed in your system preferences.
- A double-click gesture is not supported here.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- To open the game, find the picture and double-click it.
- My teacher said, 'Double-click the blue W to start writing.'
- If you double-click a word, you can usually look up its definition.
- You need to double-click the link, not just click it once.
- The software allows you to customise what a double-click does on different file types.
- He accidentally double-clicked the submit button, sending the form twice.
- The user interface was poorly designed, as a single mis-timed click could be interpreted as a double-click.
- The researcher analysed the latency between the two clicks that constitute a double-click.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'DOUBLE the action, DOUBLE the speed': You need TWO clicks in quick succession.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN ACTIVATION IS A DOUBLE TAP (extending from the physical world of double-tapping to activate).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation like 'дважды-щелкнуть' which sounds unnatural. The standard translation is 'дважды щелкнуть' (without a hyphen) or 'щёлкнуть два раза'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as one word without a hyphen in formal writing ('doubleclick').
- Confusing it with 'right-click'.
- Adding 'on' unnecessarily ('Double-click on the icon' is common but 'Double-click the icon' is more concise).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a double-click in a standard graphical user interface?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
If the clicks are too far apart, the computer will interpret them as two separate single-clicks, not a double-click.
Yes, in your computer's mouse or trackpad settings, you can usually adjust the 'double-click speed' to make it easier or harder to perform.
Not typically. On touchscreens, a double-tap gesture serves a similar function, but the term 'double-click' is reserved for physical buttons like on a mouse.
It provides a distinction between selecting an item (single-click) and activating/opening it (double-click). This prevents accidental openings and allows for more precise control.