(n) the act of pairing a male and female for reproductive purposes, Syn. pairing, conjugation, union, sexual union, mating, Example:the casual couplings of adolescents; the mating of some species occurs only in the spring
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53 Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
n. 1. The act of bringing or coming together; connection; sexual union. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. (Mach.) A device or contrivance which serves to couple or connect adjacent parts or objects; as, a belt coupling, which connects the ends of a belt; a car coupling, which connects the cars in a train; a shaft coupling, which connects the ends of shafts. [ 1913 Webster ]
Box coupling, Chain coupling. See under Box, Chain. -- Coupling box, a coupling shaped like a journal box, for clamping together the ends of two shafts, so that they may revolve together. -- Coupling pin, a pin or bolt used in coupling or joining together railroad cars, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]