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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
pair noun 1 a set of two identical or corresponding things, eg shoes or gloves, intended for use together. 2 something consisting of two joined and corresponding parts • a pair of trousers • a pair of scissors. 3 one of a matching pair • Here's one earring - where's its pair? 4 two people associated in a relationship; a couple. 5 two mating animals, birds, fishes, etc. 6 two horses harnessed together • a coach and pair. 7 two playing cards of the same denomination. 8 in a parliament: a two voters on opposite sides in a parliament who have an agreement to abstain from voting on a specific motion or for a specific duration, usually because one or both will be absent from parliament at the time; b such an agreement. 9 cricket a duck (see duck1 noun 5) in both innings. 10 rowing (symbol 2+ or 2-) a a racing-boat manned by two oarsmen or oarswomen; b the crew of such a boat. Compare double. verb (paired, pairing) 1 tr & intr to divide into groups of two; to sort out in pairs. 2 intrans said of two opposing voters in a parliament: to agree a pair (noun 8) above or to have such an agreement. paired adj. in pairs in twos.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from French paire a couple, from Latin par equal.
pair off colloq to get together with someone romantically, sexually, etc, eg at a social gathering. pair something or someone off 1 to sort them into pairs. 2 to set (things or people) against each other, eg in a game. pair up with someone to join with them for some purpose. |
pair noun 1 a set of two identical or corresponding things, eg shoes or gloves, intended for use together. 2 something consisting of two joined and corresponding parts • a pair of trousers • a pair of scissors. 3 one of a matching pair • Here's one earring - where's its pair? 4 two people associated in a relationship; a couple. 5 two mating animals, birds, fishes, etc. 6 two horses harnessed together • a coach and pair. 7 two playing cards of the same denomination. 8 in a parliament: a two voters on opposite sides in a parliament who have an agreement to abstain from voting on a specific motion or for a specific duration, usually because one or both will be absent from parliament at the time; b such an agreement. 9 cricket a duck (see duck1 noun 5) in both innings. 10 rowing (symbol 2+ or 2-) a a racing-boat manned by two oarsmen or oarswomen; b the crew of such a boat. Compare double. verb (paired, pairing) 1 tr & intr to divide into groups of two; to sort out in pairs. 2 intrans said of two opposing voters in a parliament: to agree a pair (noun 8) above or to have such an agreement. paired adj. in pairs in twos.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from French paire a couple, from Latin par equal.
pair off colloq to get together with someone romantically, sexually, etc, eg at a social gathering. pair something or someone off 1 to sort them into pairs. 2 to set (things or people) against each other, eg in a game. pair up with someone to join with them for some purpose. |
pair noun 1 a set of two identical or corresponding things, eg shoes or gloves, intended for use together. 2 something consisting of two joined and corresponding parts • a pair of trousers • a pair of scissors. 3 one of a matching pair • Here's one earring - where's its pair? 4 two people associated in a relationship; a couple. 5 two mating animals, birds, fishes, etc. 6 two horses harnessed together • a coach and pair. 7 two playing cards of the same denomination. 8 in a parliament: a two voters on opposite sides in a parliament who have an agreement to abstain from voting on a specific motion or for a specific duration, usually because one or both will be absent from parliament at the time; b such an agreement. 9 cricket a duck (see duck1 noun 5) in both innings. 10 rowing (symbol 2+ or 2-) a a racing-boat manned by two oarsmen or oarswomen; b the crew of such a boat. Compare double. verb (paired, pairing) 1 tr & intr to divide into groups of two; to sort out in pairs. 2 intrans said of two opposing voters in a parliament: to agree a pair (noun 8) above or to have such an agreement. paired adj. in pairs in twos.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from French paire a couple, from Latin par equal.
pair off colloq to get together with someone romantically, sexually, etc, eg at a social gathering. pair something or someone off 1 to sort them into pairs. 2 to set (things or people) against each other, eg in a game. pair up with someone to join with them for some purpose. |
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
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The unrivalled dictionary for word lovers, now in its 13th edition.
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The Chambers Thesaurus
The Chambers Thesaurus (4th Edition) is a veritable treasure-trove, including the greatest selection of alternative words and phrases available in an A to Z format. -
Chambers Biographical Dictionary
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Thoroughly revised and updated for its 9th edition.
Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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