What does pair mean?
Definitions for pair
pɛərpair
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word pair.
Princeton's WordNet
pair, bracenoun
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
couple, pair, twosome, twain, brace, span, yoke, couplet, distich, duo, duet, dyad, duadnoun
two items of the same kind
pairnoun
two people considered as a unit
pairverb
a poker hand with 2 cards of the same value
pair, pair off, partner off, coupleverb
form a pair or pairs
"The two old friends paired off"
match, mate, couple, pair, twinverb
bring two objects, ideas, or people together
"This fact is coupled to the other one"; "Matchmaker, can you match my daughter with a nice young man?"; "The student was paired with a partner for collaboration on the project"
pair, geminateverb
occur in pairs
pair, geminateverb
arrange in pairs
"Pair these numbers"
copulate, mate, pair, coupleverb
engage in sexual intercourse
"Birds mate in the Spring"
Wiktionary
pairnoun
Two similar or identical things taken together; often followed by of.
I couldn't decide which of the pair of designer shirts I preferred, so I bought the pair.
pairnoun
Two people in a relationship, partnership (especially sexual) or friendship.
Spouses should make a great pair.
pairnoun
Used with binary nouns (often in the plural to indicate multiple instances, since such nouns are plurale tantum)
pairnoun
A couple of working animals attached to work together, as by a yoke.
A pair is harder to drive than two mounts with separate riders.
pairnoun
A poker hand that contains of two cards of identical rank, which cannot also count as a better hand.
pairnoun
A score of zero runs (a duck) in both innings of a two-innings match
pairnoun
A double play, two outs recorded in one play
They turned a pair to end the fifth.
pairnoun
A doubleheader, two games played on the same day between the same teams
The Pirates took a pair from the Phillies.
pairnoun
A pair of breasts
She's got a gorgeous pair.
pairverb
To bring two (animals, notably dogs) together for mating.
The wedding guests were paired boy-girl and groom's party-bride's party
pairverb
To group into sets of two.
The wedding guests were paired boy-girl and groom's party-bride's party
pairnoun
The exclusion of one member of a parliamentary party from a vote, if a member of the other party is absent for important personal reasons.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
PAIRnoun
Etymology: paire, Fr. par, Latin.
O when meet now,
Such pairs in love and mutual honour join’d? John Milton.Baucis and Philemon there
Had liv’d long marry’d and a happy pair;
Now old in love. Dryden.All his lovely looks, his pleasing fires,
All his sweet motions, all his taking smiles,
He does into one pair of eyes convey. John Suckling.The many pairs of nerves branching themselves to all the parts of the body, are wonderful to behold. John Ray.
To Pairverb
Minds are so hardly match’d, that ev’n the first,
Tho’ pair’d by heav’n, in Paradise were curs’d. Dryden.Turtles and doves with diff’ring hues unite,
And glossy jet is pair’d with shining white. Alexander Pope.To Pairverb
Etymology: from the noun.
Our dance, I pray;
Your hand, my Perdita; so turtles pair. William Shakespeare.Had our prince seen the hour, he had pair’d
Well with this lord; there was not a full month
Between their births. William Shakespeare, Winter’s Tale.Ethelinda!
My heart was made to fit and pair with thine,
Simple and plain, and fraught with artless tenderness. Nicholas Rowe.
ChatGPT
pair
A pair refers to a set of two things that are considered together due to their similarity, relationship, or direct connection to each other. They can be objects, people, concepts, ideas, or coordinates, among other things. For instance, a pair of shoes refers to two shoes that look identical and are worn together. In mathematics, a pair could refer to an ordered couple of numbers.
Webster Dictionary
Pairnoun
a number of things resembling one another, or belonging together; a set; as, a pair or flight of stairs. "A pair of beads." Chaucer. Beau. & Fl. "Four pair of stairs." Macaulay. [Now mostly or quite disused, except as to stairs.]
Pairnoun
two things of a kind, similar in form, suited to each other, and intended to be used together; as, a pair of gloves or stockings; a pair of shoes
Pairnoun
two of a sort; a span; a yoke; a couple; a brace; as, a pair of horses; a pair of oxen
Pairnoun
a married couple; a man and wife
Pairnoun
a single thing, composed of two pieces fitted to each other and used together; as, a pair of scissors; a pair of tongs; a pair of bellows
Pairnoun
two members of opposite parties or opinion, as in a parliamentary body, who mutually agree not to vote on a given question, or on issues of a party nature during a specified time; as, there were two pairs on the final vote
Pairnoun
in a mechanism, two elements, or bodies, which are so applied to each other as to mutually constrain relative motion
Pairverb
to be joined in paris; to couple; to mate, as for breeding
Pairverb
to suit; to fit, as a counterpart
Pairverb
same as To pair off. See phrase below
Pairverb
to unite in couples; to form a pair of; to bring together, as things which belong together, or which complement, or are adapted to one another
Pairverb
to engage (one's self) with another of opposite opinions not to vote on a particular question or class of questions
Pairverb
to impair
Etymology: [See Impair.]
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Pair
pār, v.t. (Spens.) to impair.
Pair
pār, n. two things equal, or suited to each other, or used together: a set of two equal or like things forming one instrument, as a pair of scissors, tongs, &c., a set of like things generally: in building, a flight of stairs: a couple: a man and his wife: two members of a legislative body, holding opposite opinions, who agree with each other to abstain from voting for a certain time, so as to permit one or both to be absent.—v.t. to join in couples.—v.i. to be joined in couples: to fit as a counterpart.—adj. Paired, arranged in pairs: set by twos of a like kind: mated.—ns. Pair′ing, an agreement between two members of a legislative body holding opposite opinions to refrain from voting, so that both may absent themselves; Pair′ing-time, the time when birds go together in pairs; Pair′-roy′al, three cards of the same denomination, esp. in cribbage.—adv. Pair′-wise, in pairs.—Pair of colours, two flags carried by a regiment, one the national ensign, the other the flag of the regiment; Pair off (see Pairing above). [Fr. paire, a couple—pair, like—L. par, equal.]
Editors Contribution
pair
A known number as a unit.
The pair of lovebirds were always united and kissing.
Submitted by MaryC on February 15, 2020
Suggested Resources
PAIR
What does PAIR stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the PAIR acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.
Surnames Frequency by Census Records
PAIR
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pair is ranked #14050 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
The Pair surname appeared 2,143 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 would have the surname Pair.
71.6% or 1,536 total occurrences were White.
20% or 430 total occurrences were Black.
2.6% or 56 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
2.3% or 51 total occurrences were of two or more races.
2.2% or 48 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.
1% or 22 total occurrences were Asian.
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'pair' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1814
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'pair' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1305
Nouns Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'pair' in Nouns Frequency: #585
Anagrams for pair »
pria
ripa
pari
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of pair in Chaldean Numerology is: 3
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of pair in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8
Examples of pair in a Sentence
First, we thought it was funny, i even found a pair of sandals that fit my size and kept them.
Sterling/dollar has weakened in line with our view and we still see scope for further downside in the pair.
The passion and vision of President President Glenda Glover, Dr. Mikki Allen and all of Tennessee State University's leadership in pushing to make hockey a more diverse and inclusive sport through this feasibility study is both inspiring and humbling, through their passion and track record they will be able to create another success story for other schools and communities to chase and ideally emulate. Pair that with National Hockey League incredible community, National Hockey League fan base and wealth of community corporate partners and National Hockey League will collectively take SMASHVILLE and National Hockey League sport to new heights because of their pursuit of excellence on all fronts.
I saw a pair of big black boots coming towards me, this guy was probably hunting for students hiding beneath the benches.
Ideally we would get to a point ... where we are able to (deliver) overnight a pair of shoes to you that you designed the day before.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for pair
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- زوجArabic
- параBelarusian
- двойкаBulgarian
- parellaCatalan, Valencian
- dvojice, párovat, párCzech
- Paar, PärchenGerman
- ζευγαρώνω, ζευγάριGreek
- duopo, paroEsperanto
- par, emparejarSpanish
- pariFinnish
- paireFrench
- péireIrish
- dithis, càraidScottish Gaelic
- parGalician
- párHungarian
- զույգArmenian
- tvenna, parIcelandic
- paioItalian
- ペア, カップル, 一対, 一組, 対Japanese
- 켤레, 한쌍Korean
- جووتKurdish
- parLatin
- PuerLuxembourgish, Letzeburgesch
- pārisLatvian
- tokorua, tōpūMāori
- tokoruaMalay
- koppelen, paren, tweespan, koppel, tweetal, stel, brilstand, duo, paarDutch
- parelhOccitan
- parPortuguese
- peera, pèraRomansh
- perecheRomanian
- двойка, пара, четаRussian
- par, para, para ihopSwedish
- çiftTurkish
- параUkrainian
- جوڑاUrdu
Get even more translations for pair »
Translation
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"pair." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/pair>.
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