pair

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   form a pair or pairs

   The two old friends paired off

2. 2
   noun

   Two alike or identical things taken together; often followed by of.

   Ting, ting, ting! went the bell again. Every body sat down; the curtain shook, rose sufficiently high to display several pair of yellow boots paddling about, and there it remained.

3. 3
   noun

   Two people in a relationship, partnership or friendship.

   Spouses should make a great pair.

4. 4
   noun

   Used with binary nouns (often in the plural to indicate multiple instances, since such nouns are plural only, except in some technical contexts).

   a pair of scissors; two pairs of spectacles; several pairs of jeans

5. 5
   noun

   A couple of working animals attached to work together, as by a yoke.

   A pair is harder to drive than two mounts with separate riders.

6. 6
   noun

   A double play, two outs recorded in one play.

   They turned a pair to end the fifth.

7. 7
   noun

   A doubleheader, two games played on the same day between the same teams.

   The Pirates took a pair from the Phillies.

8. 8
   noun

   A pair of breasts.

   She's got a gorgeous pair.

Etymology

From Middle English paire, from Old French paire, from Latin paria (“equals”), neuter plural of par (“pair”). Related to pār (“equal”, adjective). Compare Saterland Frisian Poor (“pair”), West Frisian pear (“pair”), Dutch paar (“pair”), German Paar (“pair”), Italian paio (“pair”)