Meaning of pair In English

• 0 two things of the same appearance and size that are intended to be used together, or something that consists of two parts joined together:

  • a pair of shoes/gloves

  • a pair of scissors/glasses

  • I can't find a matching pair of socks.

  • He packed two pairs of trousers and four shirts.

  • I'd like you to do this exercise in pairs (= in groups of two).

  • They seem a very happy pair.

  • What have the pair of you been up to?

  • a breeding pair

  • a mated pair of swans

• 1 to make something one of a pair, or to become one of a pair:

  • Famous paintings have been paired with poems by Sandburg, Angelou, and others.

• 2 two things of the same appearance and size that are intended to be used together, or something that consists of two parts joined together:

  • a pair of gloves/shoes

  • a pair of pants/scissors

  • Each package contains three pairs of socks.

• 3 to make or become one of a pair:

  • [ T ] Famous paintings have been paired with poems by Sandburg, Angelou, and others.

• 4 two people, things, or organizations that work, are used, or appear together:

  • The pair are accused of securities fraud.

  • The carpenters worked in pairs.

• 5 to combine two things to produce a particular result:

  • 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.

• 6 to put two people or groups together to work or learn something, or to form a group of two for these purposes:

  • 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.