couple

Less common meanings

6. 6
   pair of thingsnouncountable

   Two things of the same kind that go together.

   The farmer harnessed a couple of horses to the plow.

   The hounds were leashed in couples, two dogs to each strap.

   Similarpair, brace

   Note
7. 7
   verbdatedtransitive

   To join two people together in marriage.

   I am just going to perform a very good office, it is to assist with the archbishop, in degrading a parson who couples all our beggars

   1801, Jonathan Swift, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan SwiftHere, couples means joins people in marriage, or marries them.

   Similarmarry, wed, unite

   Note
8. 8
   join sexuallyverbintransitive

   Of people or animals, to have sex or mate, or to put animals together so they mate.

   Many animals couple only during certain seasons.

   The two birds coupled briefly before flying apart.

   UsageSay couple with another animal.

   Similarmate, copulate, breed

9. 9
   turning forcenouncountable

   A pair of equal forces pushing in opposite directions that makes an object turn.

   Like two hands on a steering wheel: one pushes up while the other pushes down.

   The two forces on the wrench handle create a couple that turns the bolt.

   A couple acts on the wheel, spinning it without pushing it sideways.

   Note
10. 10
    nounarchaic

    Something that joins or links two things together.

    I’ll keep my stables where / I lodge my wife; I’ll go in couples with her;

    c. 1610, William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”
11. 11
    noun

    A pair of plates made of two different metals, used inside an old kind of battery.
12. 12
    noun

    A pair of slanting roof beams joined together at the top.
13. 13
    verb

    To enter several horses from the same owner into one race so people can bet on them as a group.