couple
pronunciation
How to pronounce couple in British English:
UK [ˈkʌpl]
How to pronounce couple in American English:
US [ˈkʌpl]
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- Noun:
- a small indefinite number
- a pair of people who live together
- a pair who associate with one another
- two items of the same kind
- something joined by two equal and opposite forces that act along parallel lines
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- Verb:
- bring two objects, ideas, or people together
- link together
- form a pair or pairs
- make love
Word Origin
- couple
- couple: [13] The notion underlying couple is of ‘joining’. The noun came into English via Old French from Latin cōpula ‘tie, connection’. This was a compound noun formed from the prefix com- ‘together’ and the verb apere ‘fasten’ (source of English apt, adapt, adept, and inept). Derived from it was the verb cōpulāre, source of English copulate [17].=> adapt, adept, apt, copulate, inept
- couple (v.)
- c. 1200, from Old French copler, from cople (see couple (n.)). Related: Coupled; coupling.
- couple (n.)
- late 13c., from Old French cople "married couple, lovers" (12c., Modern French couple), from Latin copula "tie, connection," from PIE *ko-ap-, from *ko(m)- "together" + *ap- "to take, reach." Meaning broadened mid-14c. to "any two things."
Example
- 1. The couple had filed for divorce .
- 2. The british couple were held hostage for 388 days .
- 3. The couple reluctantly agreed to try for a third child .
- 4. That 's false on a couple of different levels .
- 5. The couple is dancing at the party in shali , 30 km from grozny .