noun
1. the act of pairing a male and female for reproductive purposes
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the casual couplings of adolescents
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the mating of some species occurs only in the spring
• Syn: ↑coupling, ↑mating, ↑conjugation, ↑union, ↑sexual union
• Derivationally related forms: ↑conjugate (for: ↑conjugation), ↑pair, ↑mate (for: ↑mating), ↑couple (for: ↑coupling)
• Hypernyms: ↑sexual activity, ↑sexual practice, ↑sex, ↑sex activity
• Hyponyms:
↑assortative mating, ↑disassortative mating, ↑hybridization, ↑hybridisation, ↑crossbreeding, ↑crossing, ↑cross, ↑interbreeding, ↑hybridizing, ↑inbreeding, ↑servicing, ↑service
2. the act of grouping things or people in pairs
• Derivationally related forms: ↑pair
• Hypernyms: ↑grouping
• Hyponyms: ↑buddy system, ↑match-up, ↑matchup
Useful english dictionary. 2012.