I. cou ‧ ple 1 S1 W1 AC /ˈkʌp ə l/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ couple , ↑ coupling ; verb : ↑ couple ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: cople , from Latin copula ; ⇨ ↑ copula ]
1 . a couple
a) two things or people of the same kind SYN a few
a couple of
There are a couple of girls waiting for you.
b) a small number of things:
I just need to make a couple more calls.
a couple of
You’ll be all right in a couple of days.
2 . [countable] two people who are married or having a sexual or romantic relationship:
a newly married couple
the couple next door
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ adjectives
▪ a young/middle-aged/elderly couple
A young couple with a baby have just moved into the house next door.
▪ a married couple
Under the new rules, a married couple will now receive £20 a week extra.
▪ a newly married couple (=having married not long ago)
Many newly married couples cannot afford to buy their own homes.
▪ an unmarried couple
She rented the room to a young, unmarried couple.
▪ a childless couple (=without children)
Are childless couples more or less likely to split up?
▪ a retired couple (=having finished working at the end of their working lives)
The house is suitable for a retired couple.
▪ the happy couple (=the bride and bridegroom at their wedding)
Guests stood around the happy couple, their glasses raised.
▪ a perfect couple (=a couple that seem very suitable for each other)
Emily and John seemed a perfect couple.
▪ a courting couple old-fashioned (=having a romantic relationship, often planning to get married later)
The path by the river is a popular area for courting couples.
■ phrases
▪ they make a lovely couple (=look very attractive together/suit each other well)
You two would make a lovely couple.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ pair two things of the same type that you use together. Also used about two people who do something together or who you often see together:
a pair of shoes
|
a pair of socks
|
Winners will receive a pair of tickets for the show.
|
The pair were arrested six days after the killing.
|
They're a funny pair!
|
The British pair will be playing in the final on Saturday.
▪ a couple (of something) two things of the same type, or a very small number of things:
There were a couple of empty seats at the table.
|
Do you have any stamps? I just need a couple.
▪ couple noun [countable] two people who are married or having a sexual relationship:
a married couple
|
The couple met at university.
▪ twins noun [plural] two children who were born on the same day to the same mother:
The twins look very alike.
|
identical twins
▪ duo noun [countable] two people who perform together or who are often seen together:
a comedy duo
▪ duet noun [countable] a piece of music written for two people to play:
They played a duet by Brahms.
▪ twice two times adverb :
The group meets twice a week.
|
She sneezed twice.
II. couple 2 AC BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ couple , ↑ coupling ; verb : ↑ couple ]
1 . [transitive] to join or fasten two things together
couple something to something
Each element is mathematically coupled to its neighbours.
2 . [intransitive] formal to have sex
couple something with something phrasal verb [usually passive]
if one thing is coupled with another, the two things happen or exist together and produce a particular result SYN combine :
Lack of rain coupled with high temperatures caused the crops to fail.