couple-n; 5 Senses

Sense Number 1: a small, indefinite quantity, a few

Commentary: COUPLE[+quantity][+indefinite][+small][+few]
NOTE: informal usage, more common than Sense 4

Examples:
This rain squall is supposed to pass in a couple of hours.
Mary gave the table a couple of extra wipes, for good measure.
The after-dinner speaker told a couple of jokes about the computer industry.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 2: a pair of mated people, e.g., married

Commentary: COUPLE[+entity][+people][+pair][+mated][+married/+engaged/+dating]

Examples:
There's a rumor going around the office that Mary and Bob are a couple.
Every summer the two couples rent a beach house together, large enough for both their families.
On Valentine's Day, the restaurant reconfigured all its tables to accommodate couples.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 3: persons associated as a duo in some activity

Commentary: COUPLD[+entity][+people][+pair][+associated][+dancing/+working/+performing]

Examples:
Everyone in the room formed couples for the next square dance.
The two engineers were an inseparable couple at technology conferences.
The next couple on the ice is from Toronto, Canada.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 4: two of anything which belong to the same category

Commentary: COUPLE[+quantity][+two][+member][+set]
NOTE: a more precise (literally two) quantity than Sense 1

Examples:
A couple of detectives came by today looking for Betty.
The carriage was drawn by a couple of dark chestnut horses.
These chairs are being sold as a couple, you can't buy only one.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4

Sense Number 5: two physical forces of equal and opposing magnitude

Commentary: COUPLE[+force][+physical][+pair][+opposite][+equal]

Examples:
The total force of a couple is zero.
Under a couple's action, a rigid body tends only to rotate about a line normal to the couple's plane.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 5