26984 words

pairs

11 definitions • 26 examples
1
two things of the same appearance and size that are intended to be used together, or something that consists of two parts joined together:

Examples:

pair of I need a new pair of shoes/gloves.
I can't find a matching pair of socks.
He packed two pairs of trousers and four shirts.
in pairs I'd like you to do this exercise in pairs (= in groups of two).
2
two people who have a romantic relationship or are doing something together:

Examples:

They seem a very happy pair.
What have the pair of you been up to?
3
two animals that come together to have sex and produce young:

Examples:

4
in cricket, an occasion when a batter (= a player who tries to hit the ball) is out for a score of no runs (= points) in both innings (= a team's turns at hitting the ball) of a game:

Examples:

He picked up a pair in the opening game of the season.
She was relieved to avoid being out for a pair by hitting the third ball she faced into the leg side and scoring a single.
5
to make something one of a pair, or to become one of a pair:

Examples:

be paired with Famous paintings have been paired with poems by Sandburg, Angelou, and others.
6
to connect two devices, or a device and the internet, using Bluetooth (= a brand name for a system for connecting devices to each other and to the internet using radio signals), or to become connected using Bluetooth:

Examples:

Once you have paired your devices, you should be able to send data between them.
be paired with The mouse must be paired with the computer prior to use.
pair with Most Bluetooth earpieces pair easily with today's mobile phones.
7
two things of the same appearance and size that are intended to be used together, or something that consists of two parts joined together:

Examples:

Each package contains three pairs of socks.
8
to make or become one of a pair:

Examples:

[ T ] Famous paintings have been paired with poems by Sandburg, Angelou, and others.
9
two people, things, or organizations that work, are used, or appear together:

Examples:

The carpenters worked in pairs.
10
to combine two things to produce a particular result:

Examples:

pair (off) sth with sth He is asking the state for a $26 million investment to be paired with private support of $10 million.
Some funds combine long and short positions, usually pairing off stocks in the same industry.
11
to put two people or groups together to work or learn something, or to form a group of two for these purposes:

Examples:

The instructor paired us off, so that we could test the new techniques.
pair sb (off) with sb Ms. Morris was paired with Ms. Lindsay, with whom she spent two days learning about various aspects of running a wine business.
Employees paired off and began their tasks.

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