cou·ple / ˈkəpəl/ •
n. 1. two individuals of the same sort considered together: a couple of girls. ∎ inf. an indefinite small number: a couple of days [as pron.] we got some eggs—would you like a couple? [as adj.] just a couple more questions.a couple squirts of dishwashing liquid.2. [treated as sing. or pl.] two people who are married, engaged, or otherwise closely associated romantically or sexually. ∎ a pair of partners in a dance or game. ∎ Mechanics a pair of equal and parallel forces acting in opposite directions, and tending to cause rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane containing them.•
v. [tr.] (often be coupled to/with) combine: a sense of hope is coupled with a palpable sense of loss. ∎ connect (a railroad vehicle or a piece of equipment) to another. ∎ [intr.] (couple up) join to form a pair. ∎ [intr.] dated have sexual intercourse. ∎ connect (two electrical components) using electromagnetic induction, electrostatic charge, or an optical link.DERIVATIVES: cou·ple·dom / -dəm/ n.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
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couple. Pair of common rafters. A couple-roof therefore consists of couples resting on wall-plates and pitched together at the ridge, with or without purlins. A close-couple roof has couples with ties above their feet, thus forming triangles, preventing the feet from spreading.
A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape ArchitectureJAMES STEVENS CURL
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couple. To arrange, by means of a mechanism called a coupler, that the pedal org. can have one or more of the manuals connected with it so that the effect of its stops is reinforced. Two manuals can be connected in the same way (e.g. the swell may be joined with the great). There are ‘super-octave’ and ‘sub-octave’ couplers which duplicate the notes played, an octave higher or lower (on the same stop). Couplers are 4′, 8′, and 16′.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of MusicMICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE
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couple sb. XIII. — (O)F. :- L. cōpula tie, connection (see COPULA). So couple vb. XIII. — OF. copler, cupler (mod. coupler) :- L. cōpulāre. couplet XVI. — (O)F., dim. of couple.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English EtymologyT. F. HOAD
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couple Two equal, parallel forces which act in opposite directions in the same plane but not along the same axis.
A Dictionary of Earth SciencesAILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY
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