pair
- pair
- 1
noun plural pairs or pair (C)
1 TROUSERS ETC a single thing made of two similar parts that are joined together: a pair of jeans/trousers/scissors/glasses etc: Go put on a clean pair of jeans. | a new pair of sunglasses
2 SHOES ETC two things of the same kind that are used together: a pair of shoes/socks/gloves etc: three pairs of socks | a pair of candlesticks | a matching pair (=two things that are exactly alike)
3 in pairs in groups of two: OK class, get in pairs for the next activity. | earrings sold in pairs
4 TWO PEOPLE (singular) two people who are standing or doing something together, or are connected with each other in some way
(+ of): a pair of dancers | a pair of scruffy kids
5 the pair of you/them BrE spoken used when you are angry or annoyed: Oh get out, the pair of you. | They're crooks, the pair of them.
6 TWO ANIMALS (singular)
a) two animals, one male and one female, that come together to have sex
(+ of): a pair of doves
b) old use two horses that work together: a carriage and pair
7 I've only got one pair of hands spoken used to say that you are busy and cannot do any more than you are doing
8 CARDS two playing cards which have the same value
(+ of): a pair of jacks
9 the happy pair two people who have just become married
USAGE NOTE: PAIR
WORD CHOICE: pair, couple A pair is a set of two things which are joined or normally used together, or two people who work or do something together: a pair of jeans/slippers | drug dealers often work in pairs A couple is two or a few things of the same kind: I've found two/a couple of socks but they aren't a pair. | Can you lend me a couple of dollars (=a few dollars)? Note that two married people or two people in a lasting relationship are a couple not a pair: a childless couple GRAMMAR Things that come in pairs and are joined can only be counted using the word pair, even though they are plural: two pairs of jeans | a pair of glasses (NOT a glasses) | both pairs of scissors Things that come in pairs but are not joined can be counted either in pairs or separately: one shoe | two/both shoes | a pair of shoes
2
also pair up
verb (intransitive, transitive usually passive)
to form groups of two or be put into groups of two: be paired with sb: We were each paired with a newcomer to help with training.
pair off phrasal verb (I, T)
to come together or bring two people together to have a romantic relationship: All the others were pairing off and I was left on my own. | pair sb off with sb: They want to pair their daughters off with rich men.
pair up phrasal verb (I)
1 to become friends and start to have a relationship
2 to agree to start to work together with someone
Longman dictionary of contemporary English.
2004.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
pair — pair … Dictionnaire des rimes
pair — pair, aire (pêr, pê r ) adj. 1° Égal, semblable, pareil ; ne se dit plus, en ce sens, que dans la locution : sans pair. • Elles [deux chèvres] avaient la gloire De compter dans leur race, à ce que dit l histoire, L une certaine chèvre au… … Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré
Pair — (p[^a]r), n. [F. paire, LL. paria, L. paria, pl. of par pair, fr. par, adj., equal. Cf. {Apparel}, {Par} equality, {Peer} an equal.] [1913 Webster] 1. A number of things resembling one another, or belonging together; a set; as, a pair or flight… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
pair — 1. Used as a collective noun, pair is treated as a plural when it denotes two separate items and as a singular when it denotes a unit: so a pair of gloves, scissors, scales, shoes, trousers, etc. are singular whereas a pair of bachelors, dogs,… … Modern English usage
pair — [per] n. pl. pairs or pair [ME paire < OFr < L paria, neut. pl. of par, equal: see PAR1] 1. two similar or corresponding things joined, associated, or used together [a pair of gloves] 2. a single thing made up of two corresponding parts… … English World dictionary
pair — [peə ǁ per] verb [transitive] 1. COMMERCE if two companies, people, or things are paired, they are put into groups of two because they are connected in some way or will work together: • When the new products were paired, encouraging customer… … Financial and business terms
pair up — ˌpair ˈup [intransitive/transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they pair up he/she/it pairs up present participle pairing up past tense … Useful english dictionary
pair — PAIR, pairi, s.m. Titlu purtat de marii vasali ai regelui în Franţa şi în Anglia în evul mediu. ♦ Membru (pe viaţă) al uneia dintre cele două camere legislative din Franţa între 1815 şi 1848. ♦ Titlu de nobleţe în Marea Britanie, care conferă… … Dicționar Român
Pair — Pair, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Paired}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pairing}.] 1. To be joined in pairs; to couple; to mate, as for breeding. [1913 Webster] 2. To suit; to fit, as a counterpart. [1913 Webster] My heart was made to fit and pair with thine. Rowe … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
pair — 〈[pɛ:r] Adj.; Roulett; bei Zahlen〉 gerade; Ggs impair [frz.] * * * pair [pɛ:ɐ̯ ] <Adj.> [frz. pair < afrz. per < lat. par, ↑ Paar]: (von den Zahlen beim Roulette) gerade. * * * pair [pɛː … Universal-Lexikon
Pair — 〈[ pɛ:r] m. 6; im alten Frankreich〉 Angehöriger des politisch bevorzugten Hochadels [frz. <lat. paria „Gleiches“] * * * pair [pɛ:ɐ̯ ] <Adj.> [frz. pair < afrz. per < lat. par, ↑ Paar]: (von den Zahlen beim Roulette) gerade. * * *… … Universal-Lexikon
