Coupled

'kʌpld

verbBeginner📊CommonGeneral
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To connect or link two or more things together.

'kʌpld

verbneutralBeginner
General

To connect or join two or more things.

The two wires were coupled to complete the circuit.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're putting two LEGO blocks together. 'Coupled' means the same thing: joining things. For example, the train cars were 'coupled' together, like LEGOs!

👶 For kids: When you couple things, it's like holding hands! You're connecting them.

More Examples

2

The dancers coupled beautifully during the waltz.

3

The new software coupled the database with the user interface.

How It's Used

Engineering

"The engineers coupled the train cars together."

Relationships

"The couple coupled with passion during their dance."

2

Connected or joined together; associated.

'kʌpld

adjectiveneutralIntermediate
General

Being connected or linked.

The economic downturn and rising unemployment were coupled events.

💡 Simply: When things are 'coupled', it means they're connected or go together. Like peanut butter and jelly – they're a coupled pair! Or when two problems have a link, like hunger and poverty are often 'coupled'.

👶 For kids: When things are coupled, they're stuck together!

More Examples

2

The coupled systems allowed for efficient data transfer.

3

The researcher studied coupled reactions in the experiment.

How It's Used

Social Sciences

"The study examined the coupled effects of poverty and lack of education."

Physics

"These coupled oscillators exhibit complex behavior."

Tip:Think of two things physically linked, like train cars or a pair of shoes.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

coupled with

In combination with; along with.

"The rain, coupled with the wind, made conditions treacherous."

From Middle English *couplen*, from Old French *coplier* (“to couple”), from Latin *copulāre* (“to couple, connect”), from *copula* (“a bond, connection”).

The word 'couple' and its variations have been used for centuries to describe joining or uniting things, and this has carried through to the current usage of 'coupled'.

Memory tip

Think of a couple holding hands – they are coupled.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"a bond, connection"

coupled withclosely coupledloosely coupledcoupled systemscoupled reactions

Common misspellings

couppledcuppled

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written