jake
EnglishMerriam-Webster DictionaryEnglishMerriam-Webster DictionarySynonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Noun
few handful scatter scattering smatter smattering sprinkle sprinklingSynonyms: Verb
associate coalesce combine conjoin conjugate connect fuse interfuse join link (up) marry unify uniteAntonyms: Noun
army crowd flock gazillion horde host jillion kazillion legion loads many mountain multitude oodles scads thousands zillionAntonyms: Verb
break up dissever part section separate sever split sunder unlinkIs couple an adjective?
Adjective
The adjective use of a couple, without of, has been called nonstandard, but it is not. In both British and American English it is standard before a word (such as more or less) indicating degree. //a couple more examples of Middle English writing — Charles Barber Its use before an ordinary plural noun is an Americanism, common in speech and in writing that is not meant to be formal or elevated. //the first couple chapters are pretty good — E. B. White (letter) //still operated a couple wagons for hire — Garrison Keillor It is most frequently used with periods of time //a couple weeks and numbers. //a couple hundred //a couple dozenExamples
Noun
- //“Are they a couple?” “No, they are just good friends.”
- //Seventeen couples participated in the survey.
Verb
- //a device that makes it possible to couple the pieces
- //The coils are loosely coupled.
- //The wire is coupled to the terminal.
- //It took an hour to couple the trailer to the truck.
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1aVerb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1aAdjective
1924, in the meaning defined aboveHistory and Etymology
Noun, Verb, and Adjective
Middle English, pair, bond, from Anglo-French cuple, from Latin copula bond, from co- + apere to fasten — more at aptcouple
verb
Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)
- to come together to form a single unit //at Pittsburgh, the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers couple to form the OhioSynonymsSynonyms & AntonymsSynonyms: Nounfew handful scatter scattering smatter smattering sprinkle sprinklingSynonyms: Verbassociate coalesce combine conjoin conjugate connect fuse interfuse join link (up) marry unify uniteAntonyms: Nounarmy crowd flock gazillion horde host jillion kazillion legion loads many mountain multitude oodles scads thousands zillionAntonyms: Verbbreak up dissever part section separate sever split sunder unlinkIs couple an adjective?AdjectiveThe adjective use of a couple, without of, has been called nonstandard, but it is not. In both British and American English it is standard before a word (such as more or less) indicating degree. //a couple more examples of Middle English writing — Charles Barber Its use before an ordinary plural noun is an Americanism, common in speech and in writing that is not meant to be formal or elevated. //the first couple chapters are pretty good — E. B. White (letter) //still operated a couple wagons for hire — Garrison Keillor It is most frequently used with periods of time //a couple weeks and numbers. //a couple hundred //a couple dozenExamplesNoun
- //“Are they a couple?” “No, they are just good friends.”
- //Seventeen couples participated in the survey.
Verb- //a device that makes it possible to couple the pieces
- //The coils are loosely coupled.
- //The wire is coupled to the terminal.
- //It took an hour to couple the trailer to the truck.
First Known UseNoun13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1aVerb13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1aAdjective1924, in the meaning defined aboveHistory and EtymologyNoun, Verb, and AdjectiveMiddle English, pair, bond, from Anglo-French cuple, from Latin copula bond, from co- + apere to fasten — more at aptcoupleverbSynonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)
- to come together to form a single unit //at Pittsburgh, the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers couple to form the OhioSynonyms