pair

   [per]
Search YourDictionary Original Definitions

Pair means two similar things, often used together, or two persons or animals.noun

  1. An example of a pair is two sneakers, one for the left foot and one for the right foot.
  2. 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.verb

An example of pair is to divide students into groups of two.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

 

Search Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. pairs or pair

  1. two similar or corresponding things joined, associated, or used together: a pair of gloves
  2. a single thing made up of two corresponding parts that are used together: a pair of pants
  3. two persons or animals; specif.,
    1. a married, engaged, or courting couple
    2. two mated animals
    3. any two people considered as having something in common: a pair of thieves
    4. a brace; span: a pair of oxen
    5. two legislators on opposing sides of some question who agree to withhold their vote so as to offset each other; also, such an agreement
  4. two playing cards of the same denomination
  5. Chiefly Dial. a set or series: a pair of stairs, a pair of beads

Origin: ME paire < OFr < L paria, neut. pl. of par, equal: see par

transitive verb

  1. to make a pair of (two persons or things) by matching, joining, mating, etc.
  2. to arrange in pairs
  3. to provide with a partner: followed by with

intransitive verb

  1. to form a pair; match
  2. 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.

 

Search The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language

noun pl. pair pair or pairs
  1. Two corresponding persons or items, similar in form or function and matched or associated: a pair of shoes.
  2. One object composed of two joined, similar parts that are dependent upon each other: a pair of pliers.
  3. 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.
  4. Games Two playing cards of the same denomination.
  5. 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.
  6. Chemistry An electron pair.
verb paired, pair·ing, pairs pairs verb, transitive
  1. To arrange in sets of two; couple.
  2. To join in a pair; mate.
  3. To provide a partner for.
verb, intransitive
  1. To form pairs or a pair.
  2. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pair - Investment & Finance Definition

Search Invest

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

Search Idioms
In addition to the idiom beginning with pair, also see show one's (a clean pair of) heels.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Search Idioms

pair off

  1. to join or arrange (two people or things) in a pair
  2. to go apart or separate into pairs
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

pair

Variant of pair

noun pl. pairs or pair

  1. two similar or corresponding things joined, associated, or used together: a pair of gloves
  2. a single thing made up of two corresponding parts that are used together: a pair of pants
  3. two persons or animals; specif.,
    1. a married, engaged, or courting couple
    2. two mated animals
    3. any two people considered as having something in common: a pair of thieves
    4. a brace; span: a pair of oxen
    5. two legislators on opposing sides of some question who agree to withhold their vote so as to offset each other; also, such an agreement
  4. two playing cards of the same denomination
  5. Chiefly Dial. a set or series: a pair of stairs, a pair of beads

Origin: ME paire < OFr < L paria, neut. pl. of par, equal: see par

transitive verb

  1. to make a pair of (two persons or things) by matching, joining, mating, etc.
  2. to arrange in pairs
  3. to provide with a partner: followed by with

intransitive verb

  1. to form a pair; match
  2. 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.

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