First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1pair
noun \ˈper\
: two things that are the same and are meant to be used together
: a thing that has two parts which are joined
: two people who are related in some way or who do something together
plural pairs or pair
Full Definition of PAIR
1
a (1) : two corresponding things designed for use together <a pair of shoes> (2) : two corresponding bodily parts or members <a pair of hands> b : something made up of two corresponding pieces <a pair of trousers>
2
a : two similar or associated things: as (1) : two mated animals (2) : a couple in love, engaged, or married <were a devoted pair> (3) : two playing cards of the same value or denomination and especially of the same rank (4) : two horses harnessed side by side (5) : two members of a deliberative body that agree not to vote on a specific issue during a time agreed on; also : an agreement not to vote made by the two members b : a partnership especially of two players in a contest against another partnership
3
chiefly dialect : a set or series of small objects (as beads)
See pair defined for English-language learners
See pair defined for kids
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Origin of PAIR
Middle English paire, from Anglo-French, from Latin paria equal things, from neuter plural of par equal
Rhymes with PAIR
air, Ayr, bare, bear, Blair, blare, care, chair, chare, dare, Dare, e'er, ere, err, eyre, fair, fare, flair, flare, glair, glare, hair, hare, Herr, heir, lair, mare, ne'er, pare, pear, prayer, rare, rear, scare, share, snare, spare, square, stair, stare, swear, tare, tear, their, there, vair, ware, wear, weir, where, yare
2pair
verb
: to put (two people or things) together
Full Definition of PAIR
transitive verb
1
a : to make a pair of —often used with off or up <paired off the animals> b : to cause to be a member of a pair c : to arrange a voting pair between
2
: to arrange in pairs
intransitive verb
1
: to constitute a member of a pair <a sock that didn't pair>
2
a : to become associated with another —often used with off or up <paired up with an old friend> b : to become grouped or separated into pairs —often used with off <paired off for the next dance>
See pair defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PAIR
1606
PAIRED Defined for Kids
1pair
noun \ˈper\
plural pairs or pair
Definition of PAIR for Kids
1
: two things that match or are meant to be used together <a pair of gloves> <a pair of draft horses>
2
: a thing having two similar parts that are connected <a pair of scissors>
3
: two people who are connected in some way or do something together <Those two are quite a pair.>
2pair
verb
pairedpair·ing
Definition of PAIR for Kids
1
: to put in or join in a group of two <The guests paired off for dancing.>
2
: to form a group of two : match <This glove doesn't pair with that.>
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