Main Entry: cou·pling

Pronunciation: \ˈkəp-liŋ, -ə-liŋ\

Function: noun

1 : the joint together with its supporting structures between the last lumbar vertebra and the sacrum that joins the hindquarters of a quadruped to the trunk ; broadly : the part of the body or the conformation and proportionate length of the part of the body that joins the hindquarters to the forequarters
2 : the tendency of linked traits to be inherited together in offspring of a double heterozygote when both dominant genes occur on one chromosome and both recessive genes occur on the homologous chromosome—compare repulsion
3 : bigeminy