couple

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: twosomeduoduetmatesmatchpairtwainbracespanyokecoupletdistich

WordNet 3.0

Noun (5)

  1. a pair who associate with one another“the engaged couple”“an inseparable twosome”Synonyms: twosomeduoduet
  2. a pair of people who live together“a married couple from Chicago”Synonyms: matesmatch
  3. a small indefinite number“he's coming for a couple of days”
  4. two items of the same kindSynonyms: pairtwosometwainbracespanyokecoupletdistichduoduetdyadduad
  5. (physics) something joined by two equal and opposite forces that act along parallel lines

Verb (4)

  1. bring two objects, ideas, or people together“This fact is coupled to the other one”“Matchmaker, can you match my daughter with a nice young man?”“The student was paired with a partner for collaboration on the project”Synonyms: matchmatepairtwin
  2. link together“can we couple these proposals?”Synonyms: couple oncouple up
  3. form a pair or pairs“The two old friends paired off”Synonyms: pairpair offpartner off
  4. engage in sexual intercourse“Birds mate in the Spring”Synonyms: copulatematepair
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Couple \Cou"ple\ (k[u^]p"'l), n. [F. couple, fr. L. copula a bond, band; co- + apere, aptum, to join. See Art, a., and cf. Copula.]

1.That which joins or links two things together; a bond or tie; a coupler. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

It is in some sort with friends as it is with dogs in couples; they should be of the same size and humor.— L'Estrange.[1913 Webster]
I'll go in couples with her.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.Two of the same kind connected or considered together; a pair; a brace. "A couple of shepherds." --Sir P. Sidney. "A couple of drops" --Addison. "A couple of miles." --Dickens. "A couple of weeks." --Carlyle. [1913 Webster]

Adding one to one we have the complex idea of a couple.— Locke.[1913 Webster]
[Ziba] met him with a couple of asses saddled.— 2 Sam. xvi. 1.[1913 Webster]

3.A male and female associated together; esp., a man and woman who are married or betrothed. [1913 Webster]

Such were our couple, man and wife.— Lloyd.[1913 Webster]
Fair couple linked in happy, nuptial league.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

4.(Arch.) See Couple-close. [1913 Webster]

5.(Elec.) One of the pairs of plates of two metals which compose a voltaic battery; -- called a voltaic couple or galvanic couple. [1913 Webster]

6.(Mech.) Two rotations, movements, etc., which are equal in amount but opposite in direction, and acting along parallel lines or around parallel axes. [1913 Webster]

Note: The effect of a couple of forces is to produce a rotation. A couple of rotations is equivalent to a motion of translation. [1913 Webster]

Couple \Cou"ple\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coupled (k[u^]p"'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Coupling (k[u^]p"l[i^]ng).] [F. coupler, fr. L. copulare. See Couple, n., and cf. Copulate, Cobble, v.] [1913 Webster]

1.To link or tie, as one thing to another; to connect or fasten together; to join. [1913 Webster]

Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds, . . . And couple Clowder with the deep-mouthed brach.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.To join in wedlock; to marry. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

A parson who couples all our beggars.— Swift.[1913 Webster]
Couple \Cou"ple\, v. i. To come together as male and female; to copulate. [Obs.] --Milton. Bacon. [1913 Webster]
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