What does "pair" mean?

1. (two matching items) two things of the same kind that are used together. 2. (single item with two parts) one object that is made of two parts joined together, like glasses or trousers. 3. (two people) two people who are seen together, often because they are in a relationship or working together. 4. (poker hand) two cards that have the same number or rank. 5. (to group together) to put two people or things together to work as a team. 6. (to connect electronics) to connect two electronic devices, like your phone and your car, using Bluetooth. 7. (to match food/drink) to choose a food and a drink that taste good together.

pair — meaning, definition & examples

Q: Is it correct to say "I need a new pair of sock."?

No — say "I need a new pair of socks.". The noun following 'pair of' must be plural because it refers to two items.

Word

01two matching items

A1 · Beginner Countable noun

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.

“I can't find a matching pair of socks in this drawer.”

“She purchased an expensive pair of leather boots, hoping they would withstand the harsh winter conditions during her commute.”

Pitfall

I 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.

Synonyms

duo set couple

02single item with two parts

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

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.

“You will need a sharp pair of scissors to cut that thick paper.”

“He misplaced his only pair of spectacles, making it nearly impossible to read the fine print on the legal documents.”

Usage

Always used with 'of' followed by a plural noun, such as 'a pair of scissors' or 'a pair of jeans'.

03two people

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

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.

“The young pair walked hand in hand through the park.”

“The police are looking for a pair of suspects seen fleeing the gallery shortly after the alarm was triggered.”

Synonyms

couple duo partners

04poker hand

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. two cards that have the same number or rank.

n. a hand containing two cards of the same value.

“He had a pair of aces, so he decided to bet more money.”

“Despite holding a high pair, she folded when the third heart appeared on the board, fearing her opponent had a flush.”

05to group together

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.

“The teacher will pair each student with a partner for the project.”

“The algorithm is designed to pair mentors with students based on their shared professional interests and geographic proximity.”

Synonyms

matchteam upcouple

Antonyms

separate divide

06to connect electronics

B1 · Intermediate Computing

v. to connect two electronic devices, like your phone and your car, using Bluetooth.

v. to establish a wireless connection between two electronic devices.

“You need to pair your phone with the speakers before you can play music.”

“The system failed to pair with the wireless headset, likely due to a firmware incompatibility between the two devices.”

Synonyms

sync connect

Antonyms

disconnect

07to match food/drink

B2 · Upper Intermediate Cooking

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.

“The waiter suggested we pair the white wine with the fish.”

“The sommelier recommended pairing the spicy vintage with a robust blue cheese to balance the wine's high acidity.”

Synonyms

match complement

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”)