pair

[ pair ]

/ pɛər /

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See synonyms for: pair / paired / pairing / pairs on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural pairs, pair.

two identical, similar, or corresponding things that are matched for use together: a pair of gloves; a pair of earrings.

something consisting of or regarded as having two parts or pieces joined together: a pair of scissors; a pair of slacks.

two individuals who are similar or in some way associated: a pair of liars; a pair of seal pups.

a married, engaged, or dating couple.

two mated animals.

a span or team: a pair of horses.

Government.

two members on opposite sides in a deliberative body who for convenience, as to permit absence, arrange together to forgo voting on a given occasion.
the arrangement thus made.

Cards.

two playing cards of the same denomination without regard to suit or color.
pairs, two card players who are matched together against different contestants.

pairs, pair skating.

Also called kinematic pair .Mechanics. two parts or pieces so connected that they mutually constrain relative motion.

Philately. two postage stamps joined together either vertically or horizontally.

a set or combination of more than two objects forming a collective whole: a pair of beads.

verb (used with object)

to arrange or designate in pairs or groups of two: She paired dancers for the waltz contest.

to form into a pair, as by matching, joining, etc.; match; couple: to pair freshly washed socks.

(of animals) to cause to mate.

verb (used without object)

to separate into pairs or groups of two (usually followed by off): to pair off for a procession.

to form a pair or pairs.

to be a member of a pair.

to match with or resemble another.

to unite in close association with another, as in a business partnership, friendship, marriage, etc.

(of animals) to mate.

Government. (in a deliberative body) to form or arrange a pair.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about pair

grow a pair, Slang: Vulgar. to act in a stereotypically manly way, as by being brave: Stop the whining and grow a pair!

Origin of pair

1250–1300; Middle English paire<Old French <Latin pāria, plural (taken as feminine singular) of pār a pair. See par¹

synonym study for pair

1. Pair, brace, couple, span, yoke are terms for groups of two. Pair is used of two things naturally or habitually associated in use, or necessary to each other to make a complete set: a pair of dice. It is used also of one thing composed of two similar and complementary parts: a pair of trousers. Brace is a hunter's term, used of a pair of dogs, ducks, etc., or a pair of pistols or slugs: a brace of partridges. In couple the idea of combination or interdependence has become greatly weakened; it may be used loosely for two of anything ( a couple of apples ), and even for more than two: I have to see a couple of people. Span is used of a matched pair of horses harnessed together side by side. Yoke applies to the two animals hitched together under a yoke for drawing and pulling: a yoke of oxen.

grammar notes for pair

When used without a modifier, pairs is the only possible plural: Pairs of skaters glided over the ice. When modified by a number, pairs is the more common form, especially referring to persons: Six pairs of masked dancers led the procession. The unmarked plural pair is used mainly in reference to inanimate objects or nonhumans: He has three pair (or pairs ) of loafers. Two pair (or pairs ) of barn owls have nested on our property.
Pair signifying two individuals can take either a singular or plural verb, but it is usually followed by a plural verb and referred to by a plural pronoun: The guilty pair have not been seen since their escape.
In the sense “a set or combination of more than two objects forming a collective whole,” pair occurs chiefly in fixed phrases: a pair of beads; a pair of stairs. This use is now somewhat old-fashioned. See also collective noun, couple.

OTHER WORDS FROM pair

pairwise, adverbun·paired, adjectivewell-paired, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pair

1. pair , pare, payer, pear2. couple, pair , several (see synonym study at the current entry)

Words nearby pair

paint roller, paint stripper, paint the town red, paintwork, painty, pair, pair bond, pairing, pairle, pair-oar, pair of compasses

Other definitions for pair (2 of 2)

pair²

[ per ]

/ pɛr /

adjective

French. noting any even number, especially in roulette.Compare impair.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pair in a sentence

Some people are adamant that chocolate does not pair well with wine, period, no how, no way.
The new wine rules: Drink what you like with what you want to eat|Dave McIntyre|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
Vancouver’s Jordie Benn and Quinn Hughes are the second-worst defensive pair in regard to shot quality allowed.
The NHL’s Canadian teams are scoring a lot. Like, a lot, a lot.|Neil Greenberg|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
“One pair of dry socks lives in my sleeping bag,” Oram says.
How to stay warm while sleeping in the frigid outdoors|Alisha McDarris|February 12, 2021|Popular-Science
With the pair of games next week, Maryland will be on track to finish the season with 20 conference games as planned, despite the schedule disruptions the Big Ten has navigated this season because of the pandemic.
In schedule shuffle, Maryland will host Nebraska on back-to-back days next week|Emily Giambalvo|February 12, 2021|Washington Post

The second experiment, still using MTurk, added a pair of wrinkles.
Can I Ask You a Ridiculously Personal Question? (Ep. 451)|Stephen J. Dubner|February 11, 2021|Freakonomics
Oh, and the first press image they released was a pair of black dudes in tracksuits as a troll of sorts to NME.
The 14 Best Songs of 2014: Bobby Shmurda, Future Islands, Drake, and More|Marlow Stern|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It will still carry a pair of Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM long-range air-to-air missiles and a pair of bombs.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019|Dave Majumdar|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gurley was gunned down on Nov. 20, when a pair of cops was patrolling the rough housing project.
Protesters Demand Justice For Gurley As Gap Grows Between Cops and NYC|M.L. Nestel|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of them had not been given time to get dressed; he was perp-walked wearing only a pair of boxers.
Bobby Shmurda and Rap’s Ultimate Hoop Dream|Rawiya Kameir|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They waved down a pair of responding cops who followed the alleged cop killer into the subway.
Alleged Cop Killer Ismaaiyl Brinsley Had a Death Wish|M.L. Nestel|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He stood, with the air of a hero, both arms extended towards the amazed pair of lovers.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
Under the long lashes of low lids a pair of eyes black and insolent set off the haughty lines of her scarlet lips.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Here the pair reached the "Dun Cow" and retired to their respective quarters.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Since words have different meanings, we may sometimes find that a pair of words exemplify all three Laws, as plough and sword.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
The opposite of these two methods of rote learning is my method, which injects an active process between each pair of words.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)

British Dictionary definitions for pair (1 of 2)

pair¹

/ (pɛə) /

noun plural pairs or functioning as singular or plural pair

two identical or similar things matched for use togethera pair of socks

two persons, animals, things, etc, used or grouped togethera pair of horses; a pair of scoundrels

an object considered to be two identical or similar things joined togethera pair of trousers

two people joined in love or marriage

a male and a female animal of the same species, esp such animals kept for breeding purposes

parliamentary procedure

two opposed members who both agree not to vote on a specified motion or for a specific period of time
the agreement so made

two playing cards of the same rank or denominationa pair of threes

one member of a matching pairI can't find the pair to this glove

cricket a pair of spectacles (the cricketing term)See spectacles (def. 2)

rowing See pair-oar

British and US dialect a group or set of more than two

logic maths

a set with two members
an ordered set with two members

verb

(often foll by off) to arrange or fall into groups of twos

to group or be grouped in matching pairsto pair socks

to join or be joined in marriage; mate or couple

(when tr, usually passive) parliamentary procedure to form or cause to form a pair18 members were paired for the last vote

Word Origin for pair

C13: from Old French paire, from Latin paria equal (things), from pār equal

usage for pair

Like other collective nouns, pair takes a singular or a plural verb according to whether it is seen as a unit or as a collection of two things: the pair are said to dislike each other; a pair of good shoes is essential

British Dictionary definitions for pair (2 of 2)

pair²

/ (per) /

adjective

a Scot word for poor

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with pair

pair

In addition to the idiom beginning with pair

pair off

also see:

show one's (a clean pair of) heels

pair

Idioms about pair

Origin of pair

synonym study for pair

grammar notes for pair

OTHER WORDS FROM pair

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pair

Words nearby pair

Other definitions for pair (2 of 2)

Words related to pair

How to use pair in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pair (1 of 2)

Word Origin for pair

usage for pair

British Dictionary definitions for pair (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with pair