Pairing vs. Pair — What's the Difference?

In mathematics, a pairing is an R-bilinear map from the Cartesian product of two R-modules, where the underlying ring R is commutative.

Two corresponding persons or items, similar in form or function and matched or associated

Two corresponding persons or items, similar in form or function and matched or associated

One object composed of two joined, similar parts that are dependent upon each other

One object composed of two joined, similar parts that are dependent upon each other

Two persons who are married, engaged, or dating.

Two persons who are married, engaged, or dating.

Two persons who have something in common and are considered together

Two persons who have something in common and are considered together

Two mated animals.

Two mated animals.

Two animals joined together in work.

Two animals joined together in work.

(Games) Two playing cards of the same denomination.

(Games) Two playing cards of the same denomination.

Two members of a deliberative body with opposing opinions on a given issue who agree to abstain from voting on the issue, thereby offsetting each other.

Two members of a deliberative body with opposing opinions on a given issue who agree to abstain from voting on the issue, thereby offsetting each other.

(Chemistry) An electron pair.

(Chemistry) An electron pair.

To arrange in sets of two; couple

To arrange in sets of two; couple

To combine or join (one person or thing) with another to form a pair

To combine or join (one person or thing) with another to form a pair

To form pairs or a pair

To form pairs or a pair

To join with another in love or mating.

To join with another in love or mating.

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

The combination or union of two things.

One of the constituent items that make up a pair.

(politics) An agreement between two members of a legislative body holding opposite opinions to refrain from voting, so that both may absent themselves.

Two people in a relationship, partnership or friendship.

Present participle of pair

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

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

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

The act of pairing a male and female for reproductive purposes;

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

The act of grouping things or people in pairs

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

A double play, two outs recorded in one play.

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

(rowing) A boat for two sweep rowers.

(slang) A pair of breasts

(slang) A pair of testicles

The exclusion of one member of a parliamentary party from a vote, if a member of the other party is absent for important personal reasons.

Two members of opposite parties or opinion, as in a parliamentary body, who mutually agree not to vote on a given question, or on issues of a party nature during a specified time.

(archaic) A number of things resembling one another, or belonging together; a set.

(kinematics) In a mechanism, two elements, or bodies, which are so applied to each other as to mutually constrain relative motion; named in accordance with the motion it permits, as in turning pair, sliding pair, twisting pair.

(transitive) To group into one or more sets of two.

(computing) to link two electronic devices wirelessly together, especially through a protocol such as Bluetooth

(transitive) To bring two (animals, notably dogs) together for mating.

(intransitive) To come together for mating.

To engage (oneself) with another of opposite opinions not to vote on a particular question or class of questions.

(intransitive) To suit; to fit, as a counterpart.

To impair, to make worse.

To become worse, to deteriorate.

A number of things resembling one another, or belonging together; a set; as, a pair or flight of stairs. "A pair of beads." Chaucer. Beau. & Fl. "Four pair of stairs." Macaulay. [Now mostly or quite disused.]

Two things of a kind, similar in form, suited to each other, and intended to be used together; as, a pair of gloves or stockings; a pair of shoes.

Two of a sort; a span; a yoke; a couple; a brace; as, a pair of horses; a pair of oxen.

A married couple; a man and wife.

A single thing, composed of two pieces fitted to each other and used together; as, a pair of scissors; a pair of pants; a pair of tongs; a pair of bellows.

Two members of opposite parties or opinion, as in a parliamentary body, who mutually agree not to vote on a given question (in order, for example, to allow the members to be absent during the vote without affecting the outcome of the vote), or on issues of a party nature during a specified time; as, there were two pairs on the final vote.

In a mechanism, two elements, or bodies, which are so applied to each other as to mutually constrain relative motion.

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

To suit; to fit, as a counterpart.

Same as To pair off. See phrase below.

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.

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

To impair.

A set of two similar things considered as a unit

Two items of the same kind

Two people considered as a unit

A poker hand with 2 cards of the same value

Form a pair or pairs;

Bring two objects, ideas, or people together;

Occur in pairs

Arrange in pairs;

Make love;