combination

[ kom-buh-ney-shuhn ]

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

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. Compare permutation ( def 1 ).

combination

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˌcombiˈnational, adjective

Other Words From

• combi·nation·al adjective
• inter·combi·nation noun
• noncom·bi·nation noun
• precom·bi·nation noun
• super·combi·nation noun
• uncom·bi·nation·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of combination¹

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 waxing and waning of the infections every year is a combination of the potential for transmission at different times combined with how many susceptible people there are in the population.

From Popular-Science

“All pain experiences are a combination of physical and emotional responses,” Robertson says.

From Popular-Science

“The combination of these problems doomed the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines flights,” the report said.

From Fortune

A particular combination of atoms will always react with other chemicals in the same way.

From Science News For Students

To create a more visually engaging setting for Disrupt’s programming, TechCrunch created a 3D rendering of the Moscone Center using a combination of green screens, real sets and video call-ins from guests.

From Digiday

He uses some combination of the words comfort or discomfort in regards to how he feels about situations over 30 times.

From The Daily Beast

While the look worked for some, the combination of heat and chemicals took a toll on the hair of others.

From The Daily Beast

But if he heard this combination of Greek and Cuban music, he would be forced to reconsider.

From The Daily Beast

Late Thursday night, the House passed the combination continuing resolution/omnibus spending bill by a vote of 219-206.

From The Daily Beast

“African-American males have some of the worst health data out of any sort of gender-race combination in our country,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

Father, mother, sister, and brother all played and worked together with rare combination of sympathetic gifts.

From Project Gutenberg

The other was the spirited portrait of Baron von Friedericks, a happy combination of cavalier and soldier in its manly strength.

From Project Gutenberg

In the lungs hemoglobin forms a loose combination with oxygen, which it readily gives up when it reaches the tissues.

From Project Gutenberg

Before Ulm he nearly ruined Napoleon's combination by failing to get in contact with the enemy.

From Project Gutenberg

About midnight the combination of sultry heat and banked clouds produced the usual results.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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