couple Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a pair who associate with one another
twosome; duet; duo.
- the engaged couple
- an inseparable twosome
noun a pair of people who live together
mates; match.
- a married couple from Chicago
noun a small indefinite number
- he's coming for a couple of days
noun two items of the same kind
twosome; span; distich; duo; twain; yoke; couplet; pair; duet; brace; dyad; duad.
noun (physics) something joined by two equal and opposite forces that act along parallel lines
verb bring two objects, ideas, or people together
pair; mate; twin; match.
- 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
verb link together
couple on; couple up.
- can we couple these proposals?
verb form a pair or pairs
pair; pair off; partner off.
- The two old friends paired off
verb engage in sexual intercourse
pair; mate; copulate.
- Birds mate in the Spring

F. couple, fr. L. copula a bond, band; co- + apere, aptum, ti join. See Art, a., and cf.Copula.

That which joins or links two things together; a bond or tie; a coupler. Obs.
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.

I'll go in couples with her. Shak.
Two of the same kind connected or considered together; a pair; a brace. "A couple of shepherds." Sir P. Sidney. "A couple of drops" Adduson. "A couple of miles." Dickens. "A couple of weeks." Carlyle.
Adding one to one we have the complex idea of a couple. Locke.

[Ziba] met him with a couple of asses saddled. 2 Sam. xvi. 1.
A male and female associated together; esp., a man and woman who are married or betrothed.
Such were our couple, man and wife. Lloyd.

Fair couple linked in happy, nuptial league. Milton.
(Arch.) See Couple-close.
(Elec.) One of the pairs of plates of two metals which compose a voltaic battery; -- called a voltaic couple or galvanic couple.
(Mech.) Two rotations, movements, etc., which are equal in amount but opposite in direction, and acting along parallel lines or around parallel axes. ✍ The effect of a couple of forces is to produce a rotation. A couple of rotations is equivalent to a motion of translation.

F. coupler, fr. L. copulare. See Couple, n., and cf. Copulate, Cobble, v.

imperfect & past participle Coupled present participle & verbal noun Coupling

To link or tie, as one thing to another; to connect or fasten together; to join.
Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds, . . . And couple Clowder with the deep-mouthed brach. Shak.
To join in wedlock; to marry. Colloq.
A parson who couples all our beggars. Swift.