coupling

n 1: connects two things so they move together [syn: {yoke}]

2: a mechanical device that serves to connect the ends of

adjacent objects [syn: {coupler}]

3: the act of pairing a male and female for reproductive

purposes; "the casual couplings of adolescents"; "the

mating of some species occurs only in the spring" [syn: {mating},

{pairing}, {conjugation}, {union}, {sexual union}]

coupling

The degree to which components depend

on one another. There are two types of coupling, "tight" and

"loose". Loose coupling is desirable for good {software

engineering} but tight coupling may be necessary for maximum

performance. Coupling is increased when the data exchanged

between components becomes larger or more complex.

(1996-08-01)