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| pair [ per ] |
noun (plural pairs) |
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1. two similar things used together: two matching objects that are designed to be used together
  a pair of socks
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2. thing with two joined parts: a garment or article consisting of two matching or identical parts joined together
a pair of binoculars
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3. two people together: two people who are doing something together, or who are considered together because there is some connection between them
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4. couple: two people in a relationship such as a marriage
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5. 2 mating animals: a male and female animal of the same species who are together for mating
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6. one of two matched articles: one of two matched articles such as shoes or gloves
lost the pair to his cuff link
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7. two horses harnessed together: two horses harnessed together to pull a carriage
a coach and pair
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8. card games two playing cards: two playing cards that have the same value
a pair of aces
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9. politics two opposing members making voting agreement: two members from opposing sides in a legislative body who each agree not to vote on issues if the other is not present and able to vote. The arrangement covers occasions when members cannot vote because of illness or other commitments, the effect being to maintain the usual balance of numbers between the two opposing sides.
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10. politics agreement to form pair: an arrangement between two members on opposing sides in a legislative body to form a pair
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11. rowing
Same as pair-oar
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12. mathematics logic two ordered items: a set consisting of two items in order
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13. chemistry electron bond: two electrons forming a bond between atoms
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verb (past and past participle paired, present participle pair·ing, 3rd person present singular pairs) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb put into group of two: to form a pair with somebody, or partner one person with another, for a shared activity or for romance or friendship
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2. transitive verb match two things together: to put two matching articles together
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3. transitive verb politics form opposing members into legislative pair: to arrange a pair between two members of a voting assembly, or form a pair with another member
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4. intransitive verb zoology form mating pair: to form a mating pair with another animal of the same species
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| [13th century. Directly or via French paire< Latin paria "equals," a plural of par "equal, pair"] |
| Spelling Note |
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pair, pare, or pear? Do not confuse the spelling of pair, pare, and pear, which sound similar. Pair is a noun or verb referring to two things, parts, or people, as in a pair of shoes, a pair of scissors, pair a novice with a more experienced partner. Pare is used only as a verb, meaning "to trim" or "to peel," as in pare down the number of candidates, pare the apples. Pear is only used as a noun, denoting a fruit or the tree on which it grows.
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