1pair1 (pɛə
)
Definitions
noun
Word forms: plural, pairs, functioning as singular or plural, pair
- two identical or similar things matched for use together ⇒
a pair of socks
- two persons, animals, things, etc, used or grouped together ⇒
a pair of horses
a pair of scoundrels
- an object considered to be two identical or similar things joined together ⇒
a 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 denomination ⇒
a pair of threes
- one member of a matching pair ⇒
I can't find the pair to this glove
- cricket a pair of spectacles (the cricketing term) See spectacles (sense 2)
- rowing See pair-oar
- British US dialect a group or set of more than two
- logic mathematics
- 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 pairs ⇒
to 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 pair ⇒
18 members were paired for the last vote
See also
pairsWord Origin
C13: from Old French paire, from Latin paria equal (things), from pār equalTranslations
- British English:
pair
A pair of things are two things of the same size and shape that are intended to be used together....a pair of socks.pɛə NOUN ...a pair of socks.
- Spanish:
par
nm
- French:
paire
nf
- German:
Paar
nnt
- Chinese: 一对 n
- Arabic: زَوَجٌ n
- Portuguese: par nm
- Russian: пара nf
- Croatian: par nm
- Czech: pár nm
- Danish: par nnt
- Dutch: paar nnt
- Finnish: pari n
- Greek: ζεύγος nnt
- Italian: paio nm
- Japanese: ひと組 n
- Korean: 한 쌍 n
- Norwegian: par nnt
- Polish: para nf
- Brazilian Portuguese: par nm
- European Spanish:
par
nm
- Swedish: par nnt
- Thai: คู่ n
- Turkish: çift n
- Vietnamese: đôi n
Usage examples
A pair of suspicious dark eyes glared at him, taking in his red uniform with a frown.
, TREASON KEEP (2001)The unusually pale coloured pair is thought to be one of only 10 in Wales.
Country Life (2004)It was unclear whether an Israeli mine or tank shell killed the pair , or whether they died from the premature explosion of their own bomb.
Irish Times (2002)Lord MacLean told the pair :'You both clearly understand that I have to mark the seriousness of these crimes with custodial sentences.
Glasgow Herald (2001)He was dressed in a pair of striped trousers, a loose white shirt flapping around his fleshy form.
, THE TURN OF THE TIDE (2004)