"pairs" in the noun sense
1. pair, brace
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
2. couple, pair, twosome, twain, brace, span, yoke, couplet, distich, duo, duet, dyad, duad
two items of the same kind
3. pair
two people considered as a unit
4. pair
a poker hand with 2 cards of the same value
"pairs" in the verb sense
1. pair, pair off, partner off, couple
form a pair or pairs
"The two old friends paired off"
2. match, mate, couple, pair, twin
bring two objects, ideas, or people together
"This fact is coupled to the other one"
"Matchmaker, can you match my daughter with a nice young man?"
"The student was paired with a partner for collaboration on the project"
3. pair, geminate
occur in pairs
4. pair, geminate
arrange in pairs
"Pair these numbers"
5. copulate, mate, pair, couple
engage in sexual intercourse
"Birds mate in the Spring"
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
Princeton University "About WordNet®."
WordNet®. Princeton University. 2010.
View WordNet® License