Pair Word Meaning

Middle English: from Old French paire, from Latin paria ‘equal things’, neuter plural of par ‘equal’. Formerly phrases such as a pair of gloves were expressed without of, as in a pair gloves (compare with German ein Paar Handschuhe)

a set of two things used together or regarded as a unit

set of two things

• a pair of gloves
• three pairs of shoes

an article consisting of two joined or corresponding parts not used separately

article consisting of two joined parts

• a pair of jeans
• a pair of scissors

either or both of two members of a legislative assembly on opposite sides who absent themselves from voting by mutual arrangement, leaving the relative position of the parties unaffected

either or both of two members of legislative assembly on opposite sides

• one minister was flatly refused a pair by his Tory opposite number

put together or join to form a pair

put together to form pair

• she wore a cardigan paired with a matching skirt

give (a member of a legislative assembly) another member as a pair, to allow both to absent themselves from a vote without affecting the result

give legislative assembly member another member as pair

• arrangements are usually made between the party whips for an absent member on one side to be paired with an absentee on the other

wirelessly connect (an electronic device) to another via Bluetooth

wirelessly connect device to another via Bluetooth

• you'll now be able to pair your watch directly with a set of Bluetooth headphones