pair Hear it!

pair Definition

pair (per)

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

Etymology: 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

pair Idioms

pair off

  1. to join or arrange (two people or things) in a pair
  2. to go apart or separate into pairs
pair Synonyms

pair

n.

couple, mates, two, two of a kind, duo, twosome, combination, combo*, set, twins, brace, yoke, span, tandem, dyad, doublet, deuce, partners, duality; see also both.

pair is used of two similar or corresponding things that are associated together or are necessary in twos for proper use a pair of socks or of a single thing made up of two corresponding parts a pair of scissors; couple applies to any two things of the same sort that are somehow associated a couple of dollars, or is used colloquially to mean several or a few I have to buy a couple of things; a brace, meaning two of a kind, applies esp. to certain animals or game birds a brace of pheasants, hounds, etc.; yoke applies to a pair of animals harnessed together for pulling a yoke of oxen; span is used esp. of a pair of horses harnessed together

pair Synonyms

pair

v.

combine (with), match, balance (off); see join 1, 2.

PAIR Finance Definition
See productive asset investment ratio.
pair Usage Examples

Object

  • t-tests: Mean velocity and step width were recorded for three repetitions with each condition and analyzed using paired samples t-tests.

Converse of object

  • breed: The fish that are for sale with it are as follows breeding pair of... .. .

Adjective modifier

  • lone: The lone pairs on the halogen atom interact with the delocalized Pi system, which strengthens the C-X covalent bond.
  • coxless: Stephen Williams and Fred Scarlett, the spare men from Oxford Brookes, rowed a gutsy final to finish fourth in the coxless pairs.
  • twisted: The best cable is dual twisted pair with shielding.
  • matching: On top of all this are a matching pair of super flat NXT speakers.
  • stereo: A stereo pair of analog tape inputs ( RCA pin jacks ) is also provided.

Modifies a noun

  • trawler: Currently the Scottish pelagic fleet operates as single or pair trawlers.

Noun used with modifier

  • au: An au pair Plus must be a EU national.
  • breeding: Roseate Terns Sterna dougallii have returned to the site after an absence of six years with 2 breeding pairs recorded for 1997.
  • name/value: The syntax of the Batch Load file consists of name/value pairs that specify the metadata for each file and the action to perform.
  • electron: Each of the four compass points around the atom symbol in a Lewis diagram represents one of the four possible positions for electron pairs.
  • buddy: The last buddy pair up also spotted a shoal of several hundred cow nosed rays swimming past in formation.
  • key-value: Dictionary class implemented as a B-tree, for the storage and retrieval of key-value pairs.

Preposition: of

  • shoe: Please bring a spare pair of shoes to change into at the end of the day.
  • scissors: Always keep a very sharp pair of scissors to hand, for cutting red-tape.
  • trouser: Not good in a suit or nice pair of trousers.
  • sock: Seven pairs of baby socks with each day of the week knitted into the sock.
  • binoculars: A pair of binoculars will show them up easily - you might even see them both with your unaided eye.
  • glove: A cold day requires more clothing and possibly a pair of gloves or hat.
pair Quotes

Ah gentle pair, ye little think how nigh Your change approaches, when all these delights Will vanish and deliver ye to woe, More woe, the more your taste is now of joy.

—Milton,John

Happy, happy, happy, pair! None but the brave, None but the brave, None but the brave deserves the fair.

—Dryden,John

: †we can be but What we are. : A pair of credulous fools.

—Shirley,James

Take a pair of sparkling eyes.

—Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)