pair
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.two things of the same kind that are used together.
n.two identical or similar things intended to be used together or regarded as a single unit.
Simple“I can't find a matching pair of socks in this drawer.”
In context“She purchased an expensive pair of leather boots, hoping they would withstand the harsh winter conditions during her commute.”
PitfallI need a new pair of sock. I need a new pair of socks.The noun following 'pair of' must be plural because it refers to two items.
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.one object that is made of two parts joined together, like glasses or trousers.
n.a single article consisting of two joined, symmetrical parts; used with plural-only nouns.
Simple“You will need a sharp pair of scissors to cut that thick paper.”
In context“He misplaced his only pair of spectacles, making it nearly impossible to read the fine print on the legal documents.”
UsageAlways used with 'of' followed by a plural noun, such as 'a pair of scissors' or 'a pair of jeans'.
- 03 A2 Elementary
n.two people who are seen together, often because they are in a relationship or working together.
n.two individuals associated through a romantic relationship, partnership, or shared activity.
Simple“The young pair walked hand in hand through the park.”
In context“The police are looking for a pair of suspects seen fleeing the gallery shortly after the alarm was triggered.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.two cards that have the same number or rank.
n.a hand containing two cards of the same value.
Simple“He had a pair of aces, so he decided to bet more money.”
In context“Despite holding a high pair, she folded when the third heart appeared on the board, fearing her opponent had a flush.”
- 05 B1 Intermediate
v.to put two people or things together to work as a team.
v.to arrange or group individuals or objects into sets of two.
Simple“The teacher will pair each student with a partner for the project.”
In context“The algorithm is designed to pair mentors with students based on their shared professional interests and geographic proximity.”
- 06 B1 Intermediate
v.to connect two electronic devices, like your phone and your car, using Bluetooth.
v.to establish a wireless connection between two electronic devices.
Simple“You need to pair your phone with the speakers before you can play music.”
In context“The system failed to pair with the wireless headset, likely due to a firmware incompatibility between the two devices.”
Antonyms - 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to choose a food and a drink that taste good together.
v.to select a specific food and beverage combination to enhance their respective flavours.
Simple“The waiter suggested we pair the white wine with the fish.”
In context“The sommelier recommended pairing the spicy vintage with a robust blue cheese to balance the wine's high acidity.”
Synonyms
From Middle English paire, from Old French paire, from Latin paria (“equals”), neuter plural of par (“pair”). Related to pār (“equal”, adjective). Compare Saterland Frisian Poor (“pair”), West Frisian pear (“pair”), Dutch paar (“pair”), German Paar (“pair”), Italian paio (“pair”)
From Middle English pairen, peiren, shortened form of apeiren, empeiren, from Old French empeirier, empoirier, from Late Latin peiōrō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.