collocation

[ kol-uh-key-shuhn ]

/ ˌkɒl əˈkeɪ ʃən /

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See synonyms for collocation on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of collocating.

the state or manner of being collocated.

the arrangement, especially of words in a sentence.

Linguistics. a co-occurrence of lexical items, as perform with operation or commit with crime.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of collocation

1595–1605; <Latin collocātiōn- (stem of collocātiō), equivalent to collocāt(us) (see collocate) + -iōn--ion

OTHER WORDS FROM collocation

col·lo·ca·tion·al, col·lo·ca·tive, adjective

Words nearby collocation

collision insurance, collision zone, collo-, colloblast, collocate, collocation, collocutor, Collodi, collodion, collodion process, collogue

How to use collocation in a sentence

We cannot tell whether it depends wholly on laws, or partly on laws and partly on a collocation.
A System of Logic: Ratiocinative and Inductive|John Stuart Mill
If it depends on a collocation, it will be true in all the cases in which that particular collocation exists.
A System of Logic: Ratiocinative and Inductive|John Stuart Mill
The derivative law in this case depends not solely on laws, but on a collocation; and collocations cannot be reduced to any law.
A System of Logic: Ratiocinative and Inductive|John Stuart Mill
Whereas Descartes made the union between them a violent collocation, Geulincx practically called it a miracle.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 8|Various

The collocation of "grace" and "strength" in the ninth verse is characteristic of the New Testament, and very significant.
Expositor's Bible: The Second Epistle to the Corinthians|James Denney

British Dictionary definitions for collocation

collocation

/ (ˌkɒləˈkeɪʃən) /

noun

a grouping together of things in a certain order, as of the words in a sentence

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

collocation

Origin of collocation

OTHER WORDS FROM collocation

Words nearby collocation

Words related to collocation

How to use collocation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for collocation