A pair means two things that usually go together. We use it when talking about two items that match or work as a set.
I bought a new pair of shoes.
She has a pair of glasses on.
A pair can mean two people who act or work together, like in sports, dance, or other activities. They are partners or teammates.
They are a good pair in tennis.
The pair won the dance contest.
To pair means to bring two things or people together, often because they match or should work as a group. It is an action word.
Please pair the socks after laundry.
The teacher paired students for the task.
In nature, a pair often means two animals that are together as a couple or mates. It shows a natural team or family.
The pair of swans swim on the lake.
They saw a pair of eagles nesting.
In math and computing, a pair is two numbers or elements grouped together. They often show a connection or mapping between two things.
The ordered pair is (3, 5).
Each pair shows input and output values.
Sometimes, pair means a small number of things or people, usually two. It is used to show an informal small amount.
I will call you in a pair of minutes.
She bought a pair of apples.
In fencing, a pair means when both players touch each other at the same time. It is a special term used in the sport.
The fencers scored a pair during the bout.
In fencing, a pair can mean simultaneous hits.
To pair devices means to connect them so they work together. This word is used especially for wireless devices like Bluetooth.
I paired my phone with the speaker.
We paired the headset to the laptop.
