pair

/pɛə/noun
ElementaryNot in standard dictionaries
1

Two alike or identical things taken together; often followed by of.

2

One of the constituent items that make up a pair.

3

Two people in a relationship, partnership or friendship.

4

Used with binary nouns (often in the plural to indicate multiple instances, since such nouns are plural only, except in some technical contexts).

5

A couple of working animals attached to work together, as by a yoke.

6

A poker hand that contains two cards of identical rank, which cannot also count as a better hand.

7

A score of zero runs (a duck) in both innings of a two-innings match.

8

A double play, two outs recorded in one play.

9

A doubleheader, two games played on the same day between the same teams.

10

A boat for two sweep rowers.

Sound Patterns & Rhymes

Rhymes

Words that share the same ending sound pattern

Alliteration

Words starting with the same consonant sound — used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, emphasis, and memorable phrasing (e.g. “Peter Piper picked”)

Assonance

Words sharing similar vowel sounds regardless of starting letter — creates internal melody in writing

Consonance

Words sharing similar consonant sound patterns — adds texture and cohesion to writing

#archaic#informal#slang