pair

pair
[[t]pe͟ə(r)[/t]]
♦♦
pairs, pairing, paired
1) N-COUNT: usu with supp A pair of things are two things of the same size and shape that are used together or are both part of something, for example shoes, earrings, or parts of the body.

...a pair of socks.

...trainers that cost up to 90 pounds a pair...

72,000 pairs of hands clapped in unison to the song.

2) N-COUNT: usu with supp Some objects that have two main parts of the same size and shape are referred to as a pair, for example a pair of trousers or a pair of scissors.

...a pair of faded jeans.

...a pair of binoculars.

3) N-SING You can refer to two people as a pair when they are standing or walking together or when they have some kind of relationship with each other.

A pair of teenage boys were smoking cigarettes...

The pair admitted that their three-year-old marriage was going through `a difficult time'...

He and Paula made an unlikely pair.

4) VERB: usu passive If one thing is paired with another, it is put with it or considered with it.

[be V-ed with n] The trainees will then be paired with experienced managers.

Derived words:
pairing N-UNCOUNT usu the N of n

...the pairing of these two fine musicians.

5) See also au pair
6) PHRASE: PHR after v If you say that someone is or has a safe pair of hands, you mean that they are reliable and will not make any serious mistakes. [BRIT, JOURNALISM]

He has now held five cabinet posts and remains a safe pair of hands.

Phrasal Verbs:

English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:
(of the same kind or suited to each other), , / , , , / , / ,


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

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