Tra từ pair - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

pair [pair pairs paired pairing] noun, verb BrE [peə(r)] NAmE [per]
noun

TWO THINGS THE SAME
1. countable two things of the same type, especially when they are used or worn together
•a pair of gloves/shoes/earrings, etc.
•a huge pair of eyes
• The vase is one of a matching pair.
•a pair of aces/kings (= two playing cards that have the same value)

TWO PARTS JOINED
2. countable an object consisting of two parts that are joined together
•a pair of trousers/pants/jeans, etc.
•a pair of glasses/binoculars/scissors, etc. A plural verb is sometimes used with pair in the singular in senses 1 and 2. In informal NAmE some people use pair as a plural form
•three pair of shoes. This is not considered correct in written English.

TWO PEOPLE
3. countable + singular or plural verb two people who are doing sth together or who have a particular relationship
• Get pairs of students to act out the dialogue in front of the class.
•Get the students to do the exercise as pair work (= two students work together).
• (informal) I've had enough of the pair of you! In BrE a plural verb is usually used
•A pair of children were kicking a ball about.
•The pair are planning a trip to India together.

TWO ANIMALS/BIRDS
4. countable + singular or plural verb two animals or birds of the same type that are breeding together
•a breeding pair
•a pair of swans
•pair bonding (= the process of animals forming a pair for breeding)

TWO HORSES
5. countable two horses working together to pull a ↑carriage
•a carriage and pair
see also ↑au pair
more at a safe pair of hands at ↑safe _adj.

Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French paire, from Latin paria ‘equal things’, neuter plural of par ‘equal’. Formerly phrases such as a pair of gloves were expressed without of, as in a pair gloves (compare with German ein Paar Handschuhe).

Example Bank:
•I thought they would make a good pair so I arranged for them to meet.
•The pair were matched for age.
•The students worked in pairs.
•These candles only come in pairs.
•They make an odd pair.
•This sculpture was originally one of a pair owned by the King of France.
•a clean pair of socks
•a matching pair of vases
•a pair of swans nesting by the river
Idioms: ↑I've only got one pair of hands ▪ ↑in pairs ▪ ↑pair of hands
Derived: ↑pair off ▪ ↑pair somebody off ▪ ↑pair somebody up ▪ ↑pair up

verb

MAKE GROUPS OF TWO
1. transitive, usually passive to put people or things into groups of two
•~ A with B Each blind student was paired with a sighted student.
•~ A (and B) (together) All the shoes on the floor were neatly paired.

OF ANIMALS/BIRDS
2. intransitive (technical)to come together in order to breed
•Many of the species pair for life.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French paire, from Latin paria ‘equal things’, neuter plural of par ‘equal’. Formerly phrases such as a pair of gloves were expressed without of, as in a pair gloves (compare with German ein Paar Handschuhe).

Example Bank:
•Bryant was paired with a newcomer to the team.
•Julie paired up with Rob for the quiz.
•She was always trying to pair him off with some young woman or another.