pairing

[ pair-ing ]

/ ˈpɛər ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR pairing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a coupling.

Cell Biology. the lining up of the two homologous chromosomes or chromatids of each chromosome pair in meiosis or mitosis.Compare base-pairing.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THIS MIDDLE SCHOOL PART OF SPEECH QUIZ!

How well do you know your adjectives from your adverbs? Your preposition from your pronouns? Your interjections from your conjunctions? Let’s put your knowledge of parts of speech to the text! Note: Many of the following questions will ask you to identify the parts of speech “in order.” That means the first word in all capital letters will correspond to the first option in an answer, and so on.

Question 1 of 10

In order, what parts of speech are the words in all capital letters? Alisa was VERY tired, SO she decided to go to bed.

adverb, adverb

adverb, conjunction

adjective, conjunction

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Origin of pairing

First recorded in 1605–15; pair + -ing¹

Words nearby pairing

pair royal, pair skating, pair trawling, pair-bond, pair-oar, pairing, pairle, pairs, paisa, paisan, paisano

Definition for pairing (2 of 2)

pair¹

[ pair ]

/ pɛər /

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.

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.

usage note 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

pair·wise, adverbun·paired, adjectivewell-paired, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pair

pair pare payer pearcouple pair several (see synonym study at the current entry)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for pairing

But as perfect a pairing as Trophy Wife was with Modern Family, black-ish is, too.
‘black-ish’ Is the New ‘Modern Family’|Kevin Fallon|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And so it is with admiration and understanding that we are still violently furious over the pairing of Joey and Rachel.
15 Times ‘Friends’ Was Really, Really Weird|Kevin Fallon|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What's new, then, is the pairing of unhappy truths with sweet kisses and saccharine confessions.
Young Adult Novel Adaptations Put Mainstream Blockbusters to Shame|Amy Zimmerman|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One signal was the 2011 show at Helly Nahmad, New York pairing Soutine and Bacon and curated by Maurice Tuchman and Esti Dunow.
The Art World’s New Gang War|Anthony Haden-Guest|May 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Like a savant, he navigates us through a tasting of three French beers, finished off by a pairing with 18-month-old comté cheese.
Look Out! There’s a Craft-Beer Revolution Taking Over France|Jeff Campagna|December 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
On the other hand, watch as carefully as I may, I do not discover a single act of pairing out of doors.
Bramble-bees and Others|J. Henri Fabre
The plumage of the male after pairing is like that of the female.
The Natural History of Cage Birds|J. M. Bechstein
She preened her poor little thoughts as if for pairing time, when soul fluttered to soul across the dinner-table.
The Divine Fire|May Sinclair
The males are very quarrelsome, and when fighting or pairing are very vocal, indulging in grunting squeaks.
Animal Life of the British Isles|Edward Step
Pairing is in its nature a seizure, and the coquetry of the female goes back, perhaps, to an instinctive aversion to being seized.
Sex and Society|William I. Thomas

British Dictionary definitions for pairing (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 pairing (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

Idioms and Phrases with pairing

pair

In addition to the idiom beginning with pair

pair off

also see:

show one's (a clean pair of) heels