pairing
    n 1: the act of pairing a male and female for reproductive
         purposes; "the casual couplings of adolescents"; "the
         mating of some species occurs only in the spring" [syn:
         coupling, mating, pairing, conjugation, union,
         sexual union]
    2: the act of grouping things or people in pairs

Pair \Pair\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Paired; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Pairing.]
   1. To be joined in pairs; to couple; to mate, as for
      breeding.
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   2. To suit; to fit, as a counterpart.
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            My heart was made to fit and pair with thine.
                                                  --Rowe.
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   3. Same as To pair off. See phrase below.
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   To pair off, to separate from a group in pairs or couples;
      specif. (Parliamentary Cant), to agree with one of the
      opposite party or opinion to abstain from voting on
      specified questions or issues. See Pair, n., 6.
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Pairing \Pair"ing\, n. [See Pair, v. i.]
   1. The act or process of uniting or arranging in pairs or
      couples.
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   2. See To pair off, under Pair, v. i.
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   Pairing time, the time when birds or other animals pair.
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