Main Entry: cou·pling

Pronunciation: \ˈkə-pliŋ (usual for 2), -pə-liŋ\

Function: noun

Date: 14th century

1 : the act of bringing or coming together : pairing; specifically : sexual union
2 : a device that serves to connect the ends of adjacent parts or objects
3 : the joining of or the part of the body that joins the hindquarters to the forequarters of a quadruped
4 : a means of electric connection of two electric circuits by having a part common to both