From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpairpair1 /peə $ per/ ●●● S2 W2 noun (plural pairs or pair) [countable] 1 joined togetherCONNECTED WITH an object that is made from two similar parts that are joined togetherpair of trousers/scissors/glasses etc two pairs of jeans a pair of black tights2 
belonging togetherTWO two things of the same type that are used togetherpair of a new pair of sandalspair of hands/eyes/legs etc She felt as if every pair of eyes in the room was on her. earrings, £5 a pair a pair of skis We have five pairs of free tickets to give away.3 → in pairs4 two peopleTWO two people who are standing or doing something together, or who have some type of connection with each other The pair are looking for sponsorship from local businesses.pair of a pair of dancers ► Do not use pair to talk about a husband and wife (or two people in a similar relationship). Use couple: They’re a nice couple (NOT pair).5 → the pair of you/them6 two animals a) HBAa male and a female animal that come together in order to breedpair of a pair of doves a breeding pair b) old useDSHTTB two horses that work together7 → I’ve only got one pair of hands8 → an extra pair of hands9 → a safe pair of hands
belonging togetherTWO two things of the same type that are used togetherpair of a new pair of sandalspair of hands/eyes/legs etc She felt as if every pair of eyes in the room was on her. earrings, £5 a pair a pair of skis We have five pairs of free tickets to give away.3 → in pairs4 two peopleTWO two people who are standing or doing something together, or who have some type of connection with each other The pair are looking for sponsorship from local businesses.pair of a pair of dancers ► Do not use pair to talk about a husband and wife (or two people in a similar relationship). Use couple: They’re a nice couple (NOT pair).5 → the pair of you/them6 two animals a) HBAa male and a female animal that come together in order to breedpair of a pair of doves a breeding pair b) old useDSHTTB two horses that work together7 → I’ve only got one pair of hands8 → an extra pair of hands9 → a safe pair of handsExamples from the Corpus
pair• Downstairs he found Beryl at the table with the newspaper, her coffee and a pair of scissors.• The square was empty, except for a pair of winos sleeping it off under the statue.• They felt like a pair of burglars, enjoying themselves in someone else's house while the owner was away.• a pair of clip-on earrings• a pair of socks• Have each pair average the number of drops the penny holds.• If you wear glasses, take an extra pair when you go on vacation.• Norcross found that the acquisition of a button-pressing task proceeded more rapidly with the first pair of stimuli than with the second.• Do the next exercise in pairs.• In one later incarnation, she is depicted as severe, with a scalpel and a large pair of pincers.• Bill and his brother were a rather odd-looking pair.• I need a new pair of shoes.• Make a right pair, you will.• I've got three pairs.• Stein and his business partner are a rather unusual pair.pair of trousers/scissors/glasses etc• Downstairs he found Beryl at the table with the newspaper, her coffee and a pair of scissors.• I was patching a pair of trousers.• At nine I received a pair of glasses that each year doubled in thickness.• Thereupon, she said a prayer, took a pair of scissors and cut it off.• A pair of trousers lay across the back of a chair and his pyjamas were stuffed untidily beneath the pillow.• Accompanying the burials were textiles-felt, wool, silk and cotton-which included a rather amazing pair of trousers.• If you want to buy a flamboyant pair of trousers, go ahead!• She turned the pair of scissors over with her long, slim fingers and frowned.pair of hands/eyes/legs etc• Just a pair of hands peeling potatoes and a reflection in the mirror.• Each pair of eyes questioned and then looked away, wondering.• The clinical teacher should be part of the ward team, but must resist becoming an extra pair of hands.• A fresh pair of eyes often sees more clearly than the experienced.• This man has the safest pair of hands in the party.• A little later he discovered a stunning pair of legs at one end and a delightful face at the other.• Ellie called out to the crowd; and ten thousand pairs of hands exploded in applause.pairpair2 verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]TWO to put people or things into groups of two, or to form groups of twobe paired with somebody We were each paired with a newcomer to help with training.Grammar Pair is usually passive in this meaning, when used as a transitive verb.2 (also pair up) [intransitive] if animals pair, they come together in order to breed → pair off → pair up→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
pair• He had been paired off with Whitlock.• If a conditioned response occurs, you will begin alternating escape scenes and pairing scenes.• But the third was also paired up and came home with me.• Well, by the time things had sorted themselves out, Johnny Miller was nearest to us and we were paired with him.• Strong optimism paired with strong anxiety.• You can have your menu paired with wines for an additional $ 45.be paired with somebody• We were paired with Craig Stadler.• Nicklaus, who was paired with Floyd, also putted fairly well, holing six birdies to stave off two bogeys.• Well, by the time things had sorted themselves out, Johnny Miller was nearest to us and we were paired with him.• This time around she is paired with Misty May.• Where a Master's degree course is paired with one for a Diploma, students are registered concurrently for both qualifications.• Many Master's degree courses are paired with ones for Diplomas which have coursework and examinations in common with the degree.• On another visit, not-so-crisp chicken was paired with unseasoned mashed potatoes and too-lemony chard.• Who would be paired with who?From Longman Business Dictionarypairpair /peəper/ verb [transitive]1COMMERCEif two companies, people, or things are paired, they are put into groups of two because they are connected in some way or will work togetherWhen the new products were paired, encouraging customer gains resulted.pair withChrysler paired with Hilton Hotels for a promotion giving frequent hotel guests free Chrysler cars.Any cut in capital gains taxes would be paired with increases in other taxes.2FINANCE if the shares in two companies are paired, they are considered to be shares in one company when they are bought or sold, even though the companies have separate management arrangementsThe companies are managed separately, but their shares are paired for trading in the market. → pair ( somebody/something →) up→ See Verb tableOrigin pair1 (1200-1300) Old French paire, from Latin paria “equal things”, from par; → PAR 