Couple

//ˈkʌp.əl// adj, det, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Two or (a) small number of. Canada, US, informal, not-comparable

    "Put any couple guys in a tricked out car and a couple of bandannas […]" He trailed off."

Determiner
  1. 1
    Two or a few, a small number of. Canada, US, colloquial

    "A couple fewer people show up every week."

Noun
  1. 1
    Two of the same kind connected or considered together.

    "A couple of police officers appeared at the door."

  2. 2
    a pair who associate with one another wordnet
  3. 3
    Two partners in a romantic or sexual relationship.

    "The number of Souls in the Kingdom being uſually reckon'd one Million and a half, Of theſe I calculate there may be about tvvo hundred thouſand Couple vvhoſe VVives are Breeders, from vvhich Number I Subſtract thirty Thouſand Couples, vvho are able to maintain their ovvn Children, […]"

  4. 4
    a pair of people who live together wordnet
  5. 5
    A small number. informal

    "A couple of billiard balls, all mud and dirt, two battered hats, a champagne bottle […]"

Show 7 more definitions
  1. 6
    (physics) something joined by two equal and opposite forces that act along parallel lines wordnet
  2. 7
    One of the pairs of plates of two metals which compose a voltaic battery, called a voltaic couple or galvanic couple.
  3. 8
    two items of the same kind wordnet
  4. 9
    A turning effect created by forces that produce a non-zero external torque.
  5. 10
    a small indefinite number wordnet
  6. 11
    A couple-close.
  7. 12
    That which joins or links two things together; a bond or tie; a coupler.

    "I’ll keep my stables where / I lodge my wife; I’ll go in couples with her;"

Verb
  1. 1
    To join (two things) together, or (one thing) to (another). transitive

    "Now the conductor will couple the train cars."

  2. 2
    bring two objects, ideas, or people together wordnet
  3. 3
    To join in wedlock; to marry. dated, transitive

    "I am just going to perform a very good office, it is to assist with the archbishop, in degrading a parson who couples all our beggars"

  4. 4
    link together wordnet
  5. 5
    To join in sexual intercourse; to copulate. intransitive

    "On their wedding night they coupled nine times."

Show 4 more definitions
  1. 6
    engage in sexual intercourse wordnet
  2. 7
    To cause (two animals) to copulate, to bring (two animals) together for mating. transitive

    "The Parilia was generally considered to be the best time for coupling the rams and the ewes."

  3. 8
    form a pair or pairs wordnet
  4. 9
    To enter (multiple horses with the same owner) into a race so that a single bet can be placed on any of them winning. transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English couple, from Old French couple, from Latin cōpula. Doublet of copula.

Etymology 2

From Middle English couple, from Old French couple, from Latin cōpula. Doublet of copula.

Etymology 3

From Middle English couple, from Old French couple, from Latin cōpula. Doublet of copula.

Etymology 4

From Middle English couple, from Old French couple, from Latin cōpula. Doublet of copula.

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