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Glite Dictionary
1️⃣ The number 11 ⚽ A football team
eleven

eleven

3 2.2
A team of one more than ten players that plays in football and cricket
  • noun
  • /ɪˈlɛvən/
  • UK
translation icon : once
  • The coach announced the starting eleven for the match against France.

I want to know your starting elevens for England this tournament.

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Examples

  • I want to know your starting elevens for England this tournament.

    Rio Ferdinand Presents

  • There is Gareth Southgate starting eleven against Croatia if he's brave.

  • He might well be affluent, genial, and docile; a firm supporter of charity bazaars, a pillar of local football elevens, and a regular contributor to the Party funds of his constituency.

    Blog text (13)

  • Each team must have a full squad of twenty players to field an effective eleven during the tournament.

  • The players practiced together to improve their teamwork as they prepared for the big game with their first eleven.

Synonyms

football team
vseleven
150 1.0

A group of players who play football together, like soccer or American football

means a full side in association football or cricket with the sport's standard number

Idioms

up to eleven
  • Informal
1 9.2

To make something as intense or dramatic as possible

more at eleven
  • Archaic
9.5

A phrase people say to show that more details will come later

Compounds

eleven-plus
  • Archaic
1 8.9

An exam once taken in Britain at about eleven to decide if a child can go to a grammar school

Surface Forms

eleven singular
elevens plural

Etymology

Eleven is also used to mean a football or cricket team because those teams have eleven players. So calling a side 'the eleven' simply means the group of eleven players.