# couple

/ˈkəpəɫ/ (US) · /kˈʌpəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/couple
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. romantic partners

noun · CEFR A2

two people who are in a romantic relationship or married.

For teachers: two individuals involved in a romantic or sexual relationship, or a married pair.

- The young couple walked through the park holding hands.
- The newly married couple decided to relocate to the coast, seeking a quieter lifestyle away from the city's constant noise.

### 2. two of a kind

noun · CEFR A2

two things of the same type that are seen or used together.

For teachers: two similar or identical things considered as a single unit or pair.

- I found a couple of old coins at the bottom of my bag.
- The architect placed a couple of stone pillars at the entrance to provide structural support and aesthetic balance.

### 3. a small number

noun · CEFR A2 · Informal

a few things; usually more than two but not many.

For teachers: an indefinite small number of people or things; often used with 'of'.

- We should be finished with the project in a couple of days.
- Although the initial results were promising, it took a couple of months for the researchers to verify the data across all test groups.

### 4. physics/mechanics

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

two equal forces acting in opposite directions that cause something to turn.

For teachers: a pair of equal and parallel forces acting in opposite directions, tending to cause rotation.

- The mechanic applied a couple to the wrench to loosen the tight bolt.
- The magnitude of the couple is calculated by multiplying the force by the perpendicular distance between the two lines of action.

### 5. to join together

verb · CEFR B2

to connect or link two things together.

For teachers: to join or link two things together, often mechanically or conceptually.

- The technician had to couple the trailer to the back of the truck.
- The software is designed to couple real-time data with historical trends to provide more accurate financial forecasts.

### 6. to mate

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

to join together for sex, usually said of animals.

For teachers: to engage in sexual intercourse or to bring animals together for the purpose of breeding.

- The birds usually couple in the early spring to start their nests.
- The researchers observed the species as they began to couple, noting the specific environmental triggers that initiated the mating ritual.

### 7. a few

determiner · CEFR B1 · Informal · American English

two or a small number of something.

For teachers: used as a determiner to indicate a small indefinite number; often used without 'of' in casual speech.

- I just need a couple more minutes to finish my coffee.
- He spent a couple hours browsing the bookstore before deciding which novel to purchase for his flight.

Usage: In informal American English, 'of' is often omitted (e.g., 'a couple weeks').

## Examples

- The young couple walks through the park every morning.
- I only have a couple of dollars left in my wallet after buying lunch.
- The architect suggested adding a couple of skylights to the upper floor to maximize the entry of natural light during the winter months.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.