combination

American  

[kom-buh-ney-shuhn] / ˌkɒm bəˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of combining or the state of being combined.

   Synonyms:

   coalescence, union, conjunction, association

2. a number of things combined.

   a combination of ideas.

   Synonyms:

   amalgam, amalgamation, mixture

3. something formed by combining.

   A chord is a combination of notes.

4. an alliance of persons or parties.

   a combination in restraint of trade.

   Synonyms:

   conspiracy, cabal, bloc, monopoly, combine, cartel, cartel, coalition, league, league, federation, association

5. the set or series of numbers or letters used in setting the mechanism of a combination lock.

6. the parts of the mechanism operated by this.

7. Often combinations. a suit of underwear in one piece.

8. Mathematics.

   1. the arrangement of elements into various groups without regard to their order in the group.

   2. a group thus formed.

---

combination British  

/ ˌkɒmbɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of combining or state of being combined

2. a union of separate parts, qualities, etc

3. an alliance of people or parties; group having a common purpose

4. 1. the set of numbers that opens a combination lock

   2. the mechanism of this type of lock

5. a motorcycle with a sidecar attached

6. maths

   1. an arrangement of the numbers, terms, etc, of a set into specified groups without regard to order in the group

      the combinations of a, b, and c, taken two at a time, are ab, bc, ac

   2. a group formed in this way. The number of combinations of n objects taken r at a time is n !/[( n – r )! r !]. Symbol: n C r Compare permutation

7. the chemical reaction of two or more compounds, usually to form one other compound

8. chess a tactical manoeuvre involving a sequence of moves and more than one piece

---

Other Word Forms

• combinational adjective
• intercombination noun
• noncombination noun
• precombination noun
• supercombination noun
• uncombinational adjective

Etymology

Origin of combination

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English combinacyoun, from Middle French, from Late Latin combīnātiōn-, stem of combīnātiō “a joining by twos,” equivalent to combīnāt(us) “combined,” literally, “joined by twos” (past participle of combīnāre; combine ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

The team confined thousands of rubidium atoms so they could only move along a single straight line, using a combination of magnetic and optical fields.

From Science Daily

One meteorologist told the BBC that the combination of heatwaves and an elevated fire danger in some parts of the country could create the most "significant" conditions since the Black Summer bushfires.

From BBC

"Sustainable treatment will likely require combination approaches, longer-term strategies, and therapies that reshape how the brain interprets energy balance, not just how much people eat," he said.

From Barron's

“As yet, no company has successfully opened a REE mine in the region, due to a combination of geological, environmental, engineering, economic and social acceptance challenges.”

From Barron's

“As yet, no company has successfully opened a REE mine in the region, due to a combination of geological, environmental, engineering, economic and social acceptance challenges.”

From Barron's

Related Words

• combo
• consolidation
• merger
• mix
• sequence
• solution