couple

[ kuhp-uh l ]

/ ˈkʌp əl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR couple ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

two of the same sort considered together; pair.

two persons considered as joined together, as a married or engaged pair, lovers, or dance partners: They make a handsome couple.

any two persons considered together.

Mechanics. a pair of equal, parallel forces acting in opposite directions and tending to produce rotation.

Also called couple-close. Carpentry. a pair of rafters connected by a tie beam or collar beam.

a leash for holding two hounds together.

Fox Hunting. two hounds: 25 hounds or 12½ couple.

verb (used with object), cou·pled, cou·pling.

to fasten, link, or associate together in a pair or pairs.

to join; connect.

to unite in marriage or in sexual union.

Electricity.

to join or associate by means of a coupler.
to bring (two electric circuits or circuit components) close enough to permit an exchange of electromagnetic energy.

verb (used without object), cou·pled, cou·pling.

to join in a pair; unite.

to copulate.

Nearby words

Idioms

a couple of, more than two, but not many, of; a small number of; a few: It will take a couple of days for the package to get there. A dinner party, whether for a couple of old friends or eight new acquaintances, takes nearly the same amount of effort.Also Informal, a couple.

Origin of couple

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English < Anglo-French c(o)uple, Old French cople, cuple < Latin cōpula a tie, bond (see copula); (v.) Middle English couplen < Anglo-French co(u)pler, Old French copler, cupler < Latin copulāre (see copulate)

Related formscou·ple·a·ble, adjectivein·ter·cou·ple, adjectivewell-cou·pled, adjective

Can be confusedcouple pair several (see synonym study at pair)

Usage note

The phrase a couple of, meaning “a small number of; a few; several,” has been in standard use for centuries, especially with measurements of time and distance and in referring to amounts of money: They walked a couple of miles in silence. Repairs will probably cost a couple of hundred dollars. The phrase is used in all but the most formal speech and writing. The shortened phrase a couple, without of ( The gas station is a couple miles from here ), is an Americanism of recent development that occurs chiefly in informal speech or representations of speech, especially when followed by number terms (as a couple dozen eggs ) or units of measurement (as a couple years ago; a couple gallons of gas ). This use of couple (as an adjective or modifier) is still disliked by many. Without a following noun, a couple is even more informal: Jack shouldn't drive. It's clear he's had a couple. (Here the noun drinks is omitted.)
In referring to two people, couple, like many collective nouns, may take either a singular or a plural verb. Most commonly, it is construed as a plural: The couple were traveling to Texas. See also collective noun.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for coupled

Wartime shortages, coupled with imperfections, limited the production of British currency.
On the Trail of Nazi Counterfeiters|Dr. Kevin C. Ruffner|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some members are alone, some coupled, and lots of families, with kids in tow.
Even After Hobby Lobby, the Religious Right is Still Terrified|Gene Robinson|July 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That, coupled with him wanting it to be a coming-of-age movie, felt fresh to me.
Simon Kinberg on ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past,’ ‘The Fantastic Four’ Reboot, and Black Superheroes|Marlow Stern|May 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Particularly when they are not coupled with other policy tools, one cannot expect sanctions to deliver quickly.
Why Aren’t Sanctions Stopping Putin?|Meghan L. O’Sullivan|May 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

These skills, coupled with the craftsmanship learned in art school, have all helped his most recent endeavors.
Artist Jason deCaires Taylor’s Underwater Sculptures Are a Sight to Sea|Justin Jones|April 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The bodily fatigue thus induced, especially when coupled with a reduced diet, is a reliable cure for undue sexual desires.
The Soul of the Indian|[AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman
The different cadence, coupled with the unexpected use of Brenton's given name, brought light to Dolph Dennison.
The Brentons|Anna Chapin Ray
He was smiling now, as he coupled Mina and the handsome recalcitrant colleague in his protest.
Tristram of Blent|Anthony Hope
As at the moment we felt neither beautiful nor coupled, we only looked greener.
Sea and Sardinia|D. H. Lawrence
She feared the magnetic power of The Red Lion, coupled with my propensity for rotating.
The Lure of Old London|Sophie Cole

British Dictionary definitions for coupled (1 of 2)

coupled

/ (ˈkʌpəld) /

adjective

being one of the partners in a permanent sexual relationship

British Dictionary definitions for coupled (2 of 2)

couple

/ (ˈkʌpəl) /

noun

two people who regularly associate with each other or live togetheran engaged couple

(functioning as singular or plural) two people considered as a pair, for or as if for dancing, games, etc

mainly hunting

a pair of collars joined by a leash, used to attach hounds to one another
two hounds joined in this way
the unit of reckoning for hounds in a packtwenty and a half couple

a pair of equal and opposite parallel forces that have a tendency to produce rotation with a torque or turning moment equal to the product of either force and the perpendicular distance between them

physics

two dissimilar metals, alloys, or semiconductors in electrical contact, across which a voltage developsSee thermocouple
Also called: galvanic couple two dissimilar metals or alloys in electrical contact that when immersed in an electrolyte act as the electrodes of an electrolytic cell

a connector or link between two members, such as a tie connecting a pair of rafters in a roof

a couple of (functioning as singular or plural)

a combination of two; a pair ofa couple of men
informal a small number of; a fewa couple of days

pronoun

(usually preceded by a; functioning as singular or plural) two; a pairgive him a couple

verb

(tr) to connect (two things) together or to connect (one thing) to (another)to couple railway carriages

(tr) to do (two things) simultaneously or alternatelyhe couples studying with teaching

to form or be formed into a pair or pairs

to associate, put, or connect togetherhistory is coupled with sociology

to link (two circuits) by electromagnetic induction

(intr) to have sexual intercourse

to join or be joined in marriage; marry

(tr) to attach (two hounds to each other)

Word Origin for couple

C13: from Old French: a pair, from Latin cōpula a bond; see copula

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for coupled (1 of 2)

couple

late 13c., from Old French cople "married couple, lovers" (12c., Modern French couple), from Latin copula "tie, connection," from PIE *ko-ap-, from *ko(m)- "together" + *ap- "to take, reach." Meaning broadened mid-14c. to "any two things."

Word Origin and History for coupled (1 of 2)

couple

c.1200, from Old French copler, from cople (see couple (n.)). Related: Coupled; coupling.

couple

noun

verb (used with object), cou·pled, cou·pling.

verb (used without object), cou·pled, cou·pling.

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of couple

Usage note

Examples from the Web for coupled

British Dictionary definitions for coupled (1 of 2)

coupled

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for coupled (2 of 2)

couple

noun

pronoun

verb

Word Origin for couple

Word Origin and History for coupled (1 of 2)

couple

Word Origin and History for coupled (1 of 2)

couple