PAIRING • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Pairing

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/pˈɛrɪŋ/ Listen

noun

Pairing n.

1.

The act or process of uniting or arranging in pairs or couples.

2.

See To pair off, under Pair, v. i.

Pairing time, the time when birds or other animals pair.

verb

Pair v. t.

1.

To unite in couples; to form a pair of; to bring together, as things which belong together, or which complement, or are adapted to one another. "Glossy jet is paired with shining white."

2.

To engage (one's self) with another of opposite opinions not to vote on a particular question or class of questions. (Parliamentary Cant)

Paired fins. (Zool.) See under Fin.

Pair v. t. To impair. (Obs.)

Pair v. i. (past & past part. paired; pres. part. pairing)

1.

To be joined in pairs; to couple; to mate, as for breeding.

2.

To suit; to fit, as a counterpart. "My heart was made to fit and pair with thine."

3.

Same as To pair off. See phrase below.

To pair off, to separate from a group in pairs or couples; specif. (Parliamentary Cant), to agree with one of the opposite party or opinion to abstain from voting on specified questions or issues. See Pair, n., 6.

See images of 'Pairing'

Etymology of 'Pairing'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Pairing" Quotes from Famous Books

... a hint of spring, in pairing plovers and breaking eglantine, Senhouse, in a temporary dejection, ceased work upon his poem, and Glyde said that he must know the news. All through the winter they had had little communication with ...

— Rest Harrow - A Comedy of Resolution • Maurice Hewlett

... at the number of our minority, which is far greater than anybody expected the first time, and would have been greater still had not many members quitted the House, with or without pairing, in the expectation that the subject would not come on. But the greatest triumph of ...

— History of Woman Suffrage, Volume III (of III) • Various

... a direct bearing on social status. The men and the women often form markedly distinct groups; so that we are almost reminded of the way in which the male and the female linnets go about in separate flocks as soon as the pairing season is over. Of course, disparity of occupation has something to do with it. But, for the native mind, the difference evidently goes far deeper than that. In some parts of Australia there are actually sex-totems, signifying that each ...

— Anthropology • Robert Marett

... little shooting, but my superior officer appeared to enjoy the skating-parties most, when the frost would allow us to indulge in this pastime, and I could not help noticing how regularly we seemed to separate into two parties; the skipper invariably pairing off with Florrie, and leaving Amy ...

— Under the Meteor Flag - Log of a Midshipman during the French Revolutionary War • Harry Collingwood

... enough for any woman alive. I am very glad, Dick. Patty married to you! You old farmer," affectionately, "I've always been mentally pairing off you two! Come on; let's hear what the political windmill has to say. They're burning red fire in front ...

— Half a Rogue • Harold MacGrath

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