coupling
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a device or part used to connect two pieces of machinery or equipment together.
a mechanical device used to connect two shafts or components for the purpose of transmitting power or fluid.
Simple“The train cars stayed together because the metal coupling was strong.”
In context“The engineer inspected the hydraulic coupling for leaks before the high-pressure system was activated for the morning shift.”
UsageOften used in engineering and transport contexts.
- 02 C1 Advanced
how much one part of a computer program depends on another part.
the degree to which different software modules rely on each other; low coupling is generally preferred for better maintenance.
Simple“The programmer tried to reduce the coupling between the two modules to make the code easier to fix.”
In context“High coupling in the legacy system made it nearly impossible to update the database schema without breaking the user interface.”
UsageUsually uncountable when referring to the abstract degree of dependency.
SynonymsAntonymsdecoupling - 03 C1 Advanced
a connection that allows an electrical signal to pass from one circuit to another.
the transfer of energy or signals between electronic circuits via induction, capacitance, or direct connection.
Simple“The radio had poor sound because of unwanted coupling between the internal wires.”
In context“Capacitive coupling between the parallel signal lines introduced significant noise into the high-frequency measurements.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of bringing two people or things together to form a pair.
the process or act of joining two entities together to function as a unit or couple.
Simple“The coupling of these two famous brands created a very powerful new company.”
In context“The successful coupling of traditional craftsmanship with modern design principles resulted in a product that appealed to all generations.”
Antonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
a formal or scientific way to describe two animals or people having sex.
the act of sexual intercourse, typically used in biological or formal sociological contexts.
Simple“The scientists observed the coupling of the rare birds during the spring.”
In context“The documentary detailed the complex rituals that precede coupling in various deep-sea species.”
Synonymsmatingcoitus
“The authors of the Nature Energy paper found a way around that obstacle by coupling two ultra-thin nickel-titanium films.”
“Coupling acoustic recordings with drone footage may allow specific calls to be linked to certain habits.”
From Middle English couplynge; equivalent to couple + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.