pair
[per]
- Pair means two similar things, often used together, or two persons or animals.
- An example of a pair is two sneakers, one for the left foot and one for the right foot.
- An example of a pair is two people who are going to get married.
- Pair is defined as to match up or provide with a partner.
An example of pair is to divide students into groups of two.
A pair of shoes.
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noun pl. pairs or pair
- two similar or corresponding things joined, associated, or used together: a pair of gloves
- a single thing made up of two corresponding parts that are used together: a pair of pants
- two persons or animals; specif.,
- a married, engaged, or courting couple
- two mated animals
- any two people considered as having something in common: a pair of thieves
- a brace; span: a pair of oxen
- two legislators on opposing sides of some question who agree to withhold their vote so as to offset each other; also, such an agreement
- two playing cards of the same denomination
- Chiefly Dial. a set or series: a pair of stairs, a pair of beads
Origin: Middle English paire from Old French from Classical Latin paria, neuter plural of par, equal: see par
transitive verb
- to make a pair of (two persons or things) by matching, joining, mating, etc.
- to arrange in pairs
- to provide with a partner: followed by with
intransitive verb
- to form a pair; match
- to join in marriage; mate
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
noun pl. pair pair or pairs
- Two corresponding persons or items, similar in form or function and matched or associated: a pair of shoes.
- One object composed of two joined, similar parts that are dependent upon each other: a pair of pliers.
- a. Two persons who are married, engaged, or dating.b. Two persons who have something in common and are considered together: a pair of hunters.c. Two mated animals.d. Two animals joined together in work.
- Games Two playing cards of the same denomination.
- Two members of a deliberative body with opposing opinions on a given issue who agree to abstain from voting on the issue, thereby offsetting each other.
- Chemistry An electron pair.
- To arrange in sets of two; couple.
- To join in a pair; mate.
- To provide a partner for.
- To form pairs or a pair.
- To join in marriage; mate.
Origin: Middle English, from Old French paire, from Latin paria, equals, pl. of pār, a pair, from pār, equal; see perə-2 in Indo-European roots.
Usage Note: The noun pair can be followed by a singular or plural verb. The singular is always used when pair denotes the set taken as a single entity: This pair of shoes is on sale. A plural verb is used when the members are considered as individuals: The pair are working more harmoniously now. After a number other than one, pair itself can be either singular or plural, but the plural is now more common: She bought six pairs (or pair) of stockings.pair - Computer Definition
To establish a wireless connection. See pairing and Bluetooth pairing.
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pair - Investment & Finance Definition
See productive asset investment ratio.
Webster's New World Finance and Investment Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana.Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
pair - Phrases/Idioms
In addition to the idiom beginning with pair, also see show one's (a clean pair of) heels.
pair off
- to join or arrange (two people or things) in a pair
- to go apart or separate into pairs
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
pair
Variant of pair
noun pl. pairs or pair
- two similar or corresponding things joined, associated, or used together: a pair of gloves
- a single thing made up of two corresponding parts that are used together: a pair of pants
- two persons or animals; specif.,
- a married, engaged, or courting couple
- two mated animals
- any two people considered as having something in common: a pair of thieves
- a brace; span: a pair of oxen
- two legislators on opposing sides of some question who agree to withhold their vote so as to offset each other; also, such an agreement
- two playing cards of the same denomination
- Chiefly Dial. a set or series: a pair of stairs, a pair of beads
Origin: Middle English paire from Old French from Classical Latin paria, neuter plural of par, equal: see par
transitive verb
- to make a pair of (two persons or things) by matching, joining, mating, etc.
- to arrange in pairs
- to provide with a partner: followed by with
intransitive verb
- to form a pair; match
- to join in marriage; mate
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.