1 pair
Pronounced:
/ˈpeɚ/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural pairs or pairMeaning:
[count] 1 : two things that are the same and are meant to be used together ▪ a pair of gloves ▪ a pair of shoes/socks ▪ He blushed when he saw all three pairs of eyes watching him. ▪ She won with a pair of aces. ▪ I can't do everything at once—I've only got one pair of hands. [=I am only one person] ▪ It will take two pairs of hands [=two people] to move this rock.
2 : a thing that has two parts which are joined ▪ a pair of scissors ▪ a pair of pants/underwear ▪ I got my first pair of glasses when I was eight.
3 : two people who are related in some way or who do something together ▪ His two closest friends lived in the city and the pair of them visited him often. ▪ The dance is usually performed by a male and female pair. ▪ Those two kids make quite a pair.
4 : two animals that mate together ▪ To avoid competition, breeding/mating pairs stay away from other male chimpanzees. ▪ A pair of parrots can raise one chick each year.
2 : a thing that has two parts which are joined ▪ a pair of scissors ▪ a pair of pants/underwear ▪ I got my first pair of glasses when I was eight.
3 : two people who are related in some way or who do something together ▪ His two closest friends lived in the city and the pair of them visited him often. ▪ The dance is usually performed by a male and female pair. ▪ Those two kids make quite a pair.
4 : two animals that mate together ▪ To avoid competition, breeding/mating pairs stay away from other male chimpanzees. ▪ A pair of parrots can raise one chick each year.
in pairs
: in a group of two people or things ▪ The teacher let the students work in pairs on the assignment. ▪ They walked down the aisle in pairs.