couple

noun (couple, couples); verb (couple, coupled — to join)

«couple» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

A couple is 2 people who are together, like a married pair. tree →
A couple of things means two of them. tree →
In everyday talk, «a couple of» can mean a few. tree →
To couple is to join two things, like train cars. tree →

In the lessons

maths: two people, or two things; «a couple of» usually means 2; one couple = 2 people, so people = 2 × couples; everyday life: a couple of minutes, a couple of friends; stories: an old couple, a newly married couple

Examples

A couple bought 2 tickets each. tree →
There are 8 couples at the dance, so 16 people. tree →
She ate a couple of cookies. tree →
Each couple brought a dish. tree →
I'll be ready in a couple of minutes. tree →
An old couple lives next door. tree →
The couple danced together. tree →
The train cars are coupled together. tree →
The couple had one boy called Jem. tree →

Note

A hidden number: one couple = 2 people, so people = 2 × couples. Trap: «a couple of» in everyday talk can mean a few, but in maths problems take it as 2.

In Jewish tradition

In Exodus it means to join things together.

Interpretation. The curtains of the tabernacle were joined into one tent. Tradition sees in this that many parts form one dwelling for God's presence.

Examples

And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. (Torah EXO.36.16, JPS 1917) tree →
And he made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one. (Torah EXO.36.18, JPS 1917) tree →
And he coupled five curtains one to another; and the other five curtains he coupled one to another. (Torah EXO.36.10, JPS 1917) tree →
But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus — the same is Jerusalem; and there were with him a couple of asses saddled; his concubine also was with him. (Prophets JDG.19.10, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

A hidden number: one couple = 2 people, so people = 2 × couples. Trap: «a couple of» in everyday talk can mean a few, but in maths problems take it as 2.

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «couple» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«couple» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «couple» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«couple» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.

This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/couple/