pairing
Americannoun
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a coupling.
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Cell Biology. the lining up of the two homologous chromosomes or chromatids of each chromosome pair in meiosis or mitosis.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of pairing
Explanation
A pairing is a match between two things or people, like the perfect pairing of chocolate and peanut butter. Use this noun for two folks who work together as a perfect unit, like the pairing of your baseball team's pitcher and catcher, or two things that seem made for each other, like the classic pairing of grilled cheese and tomato soup. You can also describe the act of sorting people into pairs this way: "Our family's secret Santa pairing meant that I had to buy a gift for my great uncle again."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They aren’t the only ones in this market, but it’s a major pairing of some of the biggest home-energy companies.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026
He believes pairing IQM’s superconducting quantum technology with classical processors will not only speed up the time to solution, but cut power consumption through greater efficiency.
From Barron's • Jun. 21, 2026
Evidence suggests that pairing GLP-1 medications with endoscopic procedures or bariatric surgery could lead to greater weight loss and longer-lasting results than either approach alone.
From Science Daily • Jun. 20, 2026
But there is an emerging feeling that Tuchel prefers more physicality in his central defensive pairing – with Stones and Konsa bigger than Guehi.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
It was pretty chocolaty, but I could imagine pairing it with peanut butter.
From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
