couple
couple is defined in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913) with 8 senses, and appears in Roget's Thesaurus (1911) with 40 related terms. The full text of each entry is reproduced verbatim below.
Definitions
- 1.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.
- 2.3. 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.
- 3.(Arch.) See Couple-close.
- 4.(Elec.) One of the pairs of plates of two metals which compose a voltaic battery; -- called a voltaic couple or galvanic couple.
- 5.(Mech.) Two rotations, movements, etc., which are equal in amount but opposite in direction, and acting along parallel lines or around parallel axes. Note: The effect of a couple of forces is to produce a rotation. A couple of rotations is equivalent to a motion of translation.
- 6.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.
- 7.To join in wedlock; to marry. [Colloq.] A parson who couples all our beggars. Swift.
- 8.To come together as male and female; to copulate. [Obs.] Milton. Bacon.
Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
Synonyms
Related terms (Roget's 1911)
- accessory
- accompaniment
- accompany
- addition
- adjunct
- along
- and
- appendage
- appurtenance
- arm
- associate
- associated
- association
- attend
- attendant
- attribute
- bear
- biformity
- binary
- binate
- binomial
- biparous
- biplicity
- boat
- body
- both
- brace
- bracket
- bring
- cheek
- coefficiency
- coefficient
- coexist
- coexistence
- colleague
- collectively
- comes
- companion
- companionship
- company
Source: Roget's Thesaurus, 1911 edition (public domain, via Project Gutenberg eBook #10681).
Related questions
Reverse-dictionary questions
Definition-first questions whose answer is couple.
- What is 3. 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 called?
- What is one of the pairs of plates of two metals which compose a voltaic battery; -- called a voltaic couple or galvanic couple called?
- What is 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 called?
- What is to join in wedlock; to marry. [Colloq.] A parson who couples all our beggars. Swift called?
- What is to come together as male and female; to copulate. [Obs.] Milton. Bacon called?
Sources
- Definitions: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
- Synonyms: Roget's Thesaurus, 1911 edition (public domain, via Project Gutenberg eBook #10681).
- Canonical URL: https://worddirectanswers.com/word/couple
- Steward: Jason Burns