coupling

American  

[kuhp-ling] / ˈkʌp lɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that couples.

2. Machinery.

   1. a device for joining two rotating shafts semipermanently at their ends so as to transmit torque from one to the other.

   2. a part with an inside thread for connecting two pipes of the same diameter.

   3. a fitting at the end of a length of hose into which the end of another such length can be screwed or fitted.

3. Railroads. coupler.

4. Electricity.

   1. the association of two circuits or systems in such a way that power may be transferred from one to the other.

   2. a device or expedient to ensure this.

5. a short length of plumbing pipe having each end threaded on the inside.

6. the part of the body between the tops of the shoulder blades and the tops of the hip joints in a dog, horse, etc.

7. linkage.

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coupling British  

/ ˈkʌplɪŋ /

noun

1. a mechanical device that connects two things

2. a device for connecting railway cars or trucks together

3. the part of the body of a horse, dog, or other quadruped that lies between the forequarters and the hindquarters

4. electronics the act or process of linking two or more circuits so that power can be transferred between them usually by mutual induction, as in a transformer, or by means of a capacitor or inductor common to both circuits See also direct coupling

5. physics an interaction between different properties of a system, such as a group of atoms or nuclei, or between two or more systems

6. genetics the occurrence of two specified nonallelic genes from the same parent on the same chromosome

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Etymology

Origin of coupling

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; couple, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Other faults have since been found with a coupling and a bow thruster, and it is likely to be out of action until early next week.

From BBC

"The computational model predicts how design decisions affect electromagnetic wave propagation in the chip," said Nonaka, "to make sure proper signal coupling occurs and avoid unwanted crosstalk."

From Science Daily

Until now, scientists generally believed that ultrafast charge transfer required large energy differences between materials and strong electronic coupling.

From Science Daily

Through capacitive coupling, that charge may generate intense electric fields inside microscopic voids within fractured rock.

From Science Daily

This coupling of intimacy and technology makes us vulnerable.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• intercourse
• pairing