combinationn.
/ˌkɒmbᵻˈneɪʃn/, U.S. /ˌkɑmbəˈneɪʃən/ 1. gen. The action of combining or joining two or more separate things into a whole.
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the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being combined > [noun] > action or fact of combining
compositionc1386
combining1552
combination1604
coalition1605
systasis1605
combinement1606
integration1620
conflation1626
complexion1628
coincidence1647
integrating1654
complication1655
consolidationa1676
composure1715
join-worka1774
amalgamy1788
amalgamation1828
synthesizing1830
synthesisa1834
1604 R. Cawdrey Table Alphabet. Combination, a ioyning, or coupling together.
1633 P. Fletcher Purple Island iii. xxvii. 35 These two fair Isles..Are oft made one by Loves firm combination.
1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. i. 8 Words in great variety result from the different Combinations and Conjunctions of a few Letters.
1712 R. Blackmore Creation iv. 199 Atoms..From which, by various Combination, springs This unconfin'd Diversity of Things.
1847 E. Guest in Proc. Philol. Soc. 3 27 Every combination in language is an act of the will and reason.
2. Combined state or condition of two or more things; condition of union, conjunction.
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the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being combined > [noun]
combination1597
concurrency1597
combinement1606
consistence1651
compound1671
combinedness1852
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxxviii. 238 Neither ought it to seeme lesse reasonable, that..a combination be admitted in this case, as well as diuision in the former.
1637 R. Humfrey tr. St. Ambrose Christian Offices i. 121 Conjugal combination.
1692 R. South 12 Serm. I. 565 Ingratitude..is always in combination with..Pride..and Hard-heartedness.
1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 36. ⁋5 The same images in the same combination.
1875 H. C. Wood Treat. Therapeutics (1879) 482 Digitalis..is best given in combination.
1878 W. S. Jevons Polit. Econ. 40 When several men work at the same capstan, the combination is simple.
3. concrete.† b. An ecclesiastical plurality. Obsolete.
a. Such a condition embodied in a group or set of things combined into a whole.
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the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being combined > [noun] > a combination
combination?1533
composition1556
composure1609
composture1614
compound1621
annexationa1626
conjugation1626
complexiona1637
composta1640
consistence1641
conferrumination1647
compositum1652
copulation1774
amalgam1790
amalgamation1828
combo1929
?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Cci The body..is but a conglutinacion and combination of the foure elementes.
a1629 W. Hinde Faithfull Remonstr. (1641) xxx. 94 Such assemblies..are for the most part..a combination of the Popish and prophane.
1779 S. Johnson Cowley in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets I. 46 They..produced combinations of confused magnificence.
1821 W. M. Craig Lect. Drawing iii. 142 Blue, red, yellow, and their combinations.
1853 A. Soyer Pantropheon 136 The cooks..could form unheard-of combinations with the succulent pieces.
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society > faith > worship > benefice > kinds of benefice > [noun] > two or more held together > one of
pluralityc1400
combination1618
1618 J. Hales Let. 28 Nov. 3 in Golden Remains (1659) The Impediments were..Combinations, that is double Benefices, when men having two Cures could not sufficiently attend both.
4. † c. Agreement, treaty, alliance, compact. Obsolete.
a. The banding together or union of persons for the prosecution of a common object: formerly used almost always in a bad sense = conspiracy, self-interested or illegal confederacy; hence (later), the term applied to the unions (formerly illegal) of employers or workmen to further their interests, affect the rate of wages, etc.
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society > society and the community > social relations > association for a common purpose > [noun]
onehead1340
alliance?a1400
union?a1425
union?1435
allya1445
alliage1450
allyc1450
association1535
sociation1579
combination1593
confederacy1594
adhesion1614
coalescency1645
togetherness1656
compendance1658
junction1783
affiliation1791
confederateship1837
allyship1849
solidification1891
togetherhood1896
we-ness1920
us-ness1927
the mind > will > intention > planning > plotting > [noun] > conspiracy
conspiracyc1386
conspiration1388
confederationc1530
faction1549
conspiring1561
combination1593
complotment1594
confederacy1594
complotting1607
colluding1611
compacta1616
trinketing1646
caballinga1680
cabal1738
colloguing1880
collogue1887
society > occupation and work > working > association of employers or employees > [noun]
combination1795
social partner1946
1593 R. Bancroft Daungerous Positions i. i. 7 By reason of their said combination and secretenesse vsed, many thinges lie hidde from those in authority.
1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia iv. 146 [They] by a generall combination in one day plotted to subuert the whole Colony.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 31 Oct. (1974) VIII. 512 Some few..that do keep out of all plot and combinations.
1712 W. Rogers Cruising Voy. 235 I us'd what Arguments I could offer, shew'd them the Danger and Folly of Combinations.
1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. ii. v. 446 Either by combination or by any other sort of violence. View more context for this quotation
1795 J. B. Bird (title) The Laws respecting Masters and Servants..comprising..the law respecting combinations amongst workmen.
1824 Act 5 George IV c. 95 Workmen..who shall enter into any Combination to obtain an Advance..shall not therefore be subject or liable to any Indictment or Prosecution..under the Common or the Statute law.
1845 Penny Cycl. Suppl. I. 398/2 Till then (1824) any combination of any two or more masters, or of any two or more workmen, to lower or raise wages, or to increase or diminish the number of hours of work, or quantity of work, to be done, was punishable at common law as a misdemeanour: and there were also thirty-five statutes in existence..prohibiting combinations of workmen against masters.
1853 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey (new ed.) iii. iv. 88 ‘Entered into a combination!’ ‘Yes, Mr. Grey! a conspiracy.’
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. i. 17 A combination of three or four of the leading nobles was sufficient..to effect a revolution.
b. concrete. An association or society thus formed.
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society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > [noun]
fellowshipa1400
society1548
borrow1581
combination1597
guild1630
sodality1633
associationa1658
band-society1742
organization1793
Assn.1859
soc.1890
teleocracy1921
org1936
society > occupation and work > working > association of employers or employees > [noun] > trade union
covin1764
union1818
trade union1825
trades combination1831
combination1833
labour union1849
syndical chamber (occasionally union)1864
sindicato1936
1597 F. Bacon Ess. f. 10 As..hee doe content euerie faction or combination of people.
a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 25 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) The second company of this combination.
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World i. 50 To..form other Societies or Combinations.
1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India III. vi. ii. 79 Pardon is commonly granted to any one of a combination who gives evidence against the rest.
1833 New Monthly Mag. 38 51 Some combinations have framed rules to prevent men from having above a certain number of apprentices.
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the mind > language > speech > agreement > [noun]
accordc1275
assentc1400
agreement1427
appointment?1440
agreec1475
condition1483
covin1489
agreeance1525
concluding1530
compaction1534
indenture1540
conjurea1547
obsignation?1555
conclusion1569
engage1589
astipulation1595
adstipulation1598
agreation1598
tractation1600
closing1606
dispatch1612
combinationa1616
engagement1617
closure1647
covenantinga1649
adjustment1674
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) v. i. 379 A solemne Combination shall be made Of our deere soules. View more context for this quotation
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. i. 169 This cunning Cardinall The Articles o' th' Combination drew As himselfe pleas'd. View more context for this quotation
d. A small instrumental band. Cf. combo n. 3.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > instrumentalist > company of instrumentalists > [noun] > small band or pop group
group1927
combination1928
combo1935
skiffle group1953
pop group1963
supergroup1968
rap group1969
garage band1974
hair band1989
popular beat combo1990
covers band1991
1928 Melody Maker Feb. 165/2 The combination is a five piece one, comprising piano, saxophone, trumpet, banjo and drums.
5. Mathematics.† a. = alligation n. 2. Obsolete.
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the world > relative properties > number > arithmetic or algebraic operations > [noun] > rule of mixtures
alligation1552
combination1552
combining1552
1552 R. Record Ground of Artes (rev. ed.) ii. sig. X.ii More varieties in combination may folow anone.
b. plural. The different collections which can be made of any number of given individuals, when they are taken in groups of a definite number, but without regard to the order of arrangement. Thus ab and ba are the same combination, though different permutations.
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the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > numerical arrangement > [noun]
combination1684
permanent1939
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > underwear > [noun] > combined clothing for upper or lower parts of body
combination1684
union suit1868
combination garment1884
combi1891
pantywaist1910
cami-knickers1915
cami-petticoat1923
teddy1924
cami-bocker1926
corselette1926
combs1931
all-in-one1939
body stocking1964
teddy bear1978
1684 J. Wallis (title) Treatise of algebra... Of the cono-cuneus,..angular sections,..angle of contact,..combinations, alternations, etc.
1764 T. Reid Inq. Human Mind iii, in Wks. (1863) I. 116/2 They who are acquainted with the theory of combinations.
1838 A. De Morgan Ess. Probabilities 35 If I ask how many combinations of 21 can be taken out of 25, I do in effect ask how many combinations of 4 may be taken.
1870 F. C. Bowen Logic xii. 417 The laws of the permutation and combination of numbers.
c. An ingenious sequence of moves in chess.
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society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > move > sequence of moves
gambit1656
game1735
combination1875
1875 Field 15 May 469/1 Mr Blackburne is not apt to lag when the opportunity for a fine combination presents itself.
1951 ‘Assiac’ Adventure in Chess i. iii. 21 The main work in White's pretty little combination was done by the Bishop.
6. Chemistry. Chemical union, in which substances combine to form new compounds; concrete the product or compound resulting from such a union.
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical admixture or isolation > [noun] > chemical combination
chemical mixture1654
combination1766
chemical combination1767
1766 T. Amory Life John Buncle II. x. 343 The gold and the reguline part of antimony being heaviest, the combination of them sinks to the bottom.
1800 tr. E. J. B. Bouillon-Lagrange Man. Course Chem. I. 379 The substance formed by the combination of tungsten with oxygen.
1868 W. Cortis tr. Naquet Chem. 3 In compounds which result from combination, the proportion is definite and constant.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 78 The red powder is a combination of this oxygen with mercury.
7. Connection of ideas in the mind.
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the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > idea, notion, or concept > [noun] > system of > connection
connection1651
association1700
combination1700
connectedness1886
1700 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding (new ed.) ii. xxxiii. 222 This strong Combination of Ideas, not ally'd by Nature, the Mind makes in it self either voluntarily, or by chance.
a1704 J. Locke Thoughts on Conduct of Understanding (1754) §41 They never suffer any ideas to be joined in their understandings, in any other or stronger combination than what their own nature and correspondence give them.
1727 R. Greene Princ. Philos. Expansive & Contractive Forces 662 Particular Combinations of Simple Ideas.
1831 W. Scott Quentin Durward (new ed.) I. viii. 155 Whist..a game..which requires..memory, judgment, and combination.
1844 A. P. Stanley Life & Corr. T. Arnold I. iv. 185 Quickness and power of combination.
8. Short for combination-room n.
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1749 in Chr. Wordsworth Soc. Life Univ. 18th C. (1874) 161 A fire to be made in the Combination at noon, to continue till two o'clock in the afternoon.
9. = combination garment n. at Compounds 2.
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1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 24 Oct. 2/2 These two combinations and a well-made dress..form the most healthy and comfortable dress for women.
1890 Daily News 8 Jan. 7/6 Ladies' natural wool combinations.
10. figurative.1889 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang II. 30/2 To lose the combination (American), to miss the meaning or point of anything.1906 L. L. Bell Carolina Lee 271 Why, Carolina, I've lost the combination!1918 ‘I. Hay’ Last Million xv. 242 ‘How did the British Tommy and the Doughboy get along?’.. ‘Each took a while..to get the combination of the other.’
a. = combination lock n. at Compounds 2 (see below). Also, the series of movements required to open such a lock.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > lock > combination lock > movement to open
combination1845
society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > lock > combination lock
combination lock1851
combination1909
1845 C. Cist Cincinnati Misc. 194 The locks which are on the combination principle, not only defy picking, [etc.].
1880 ‘M. Twain’ in Atlantic Monthly XLVI. 228/2 They commanded him to reveal the ‘combination’, so that they could get into the safe.
1909 ‘O. Henry’ Roads of Destiny x. 170 She had then shot the bolts and turned the knob of the combination as she had seen Mr. Adams do.
1910 ‘O. Henry’ Rolling Stones (1915) 113 The clerks in Bell's..whirled the combination of the safe..and left for their homes.
1924 C. E. Mulford Rustlers' Valley iii. 25 Counting money and manipulating his combinations were two things the banker could do automatically... Glenn slowly closed the safe, automatically spun the combination knob.
1932 P. G. Wodehouse Hot Water xvii. 287 Some guy once told me that if you listened for the tumblers you could get the combination.
1958 L. Cottrell Anvil of Civilisation x. 144 It was their effect that mattered—like the combination which opens a safe.
b. (In full motorcycle combination.) A motorcycle with a side-car attached for the conveyance of a passenger or goods.
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society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > motorcycle > [noun] > with sidecar
combination1907
motorcycle combination1919
1907 G. B. Shaw Lett. to Granville Barker 19 Sept. (1956) 105 I should have come up for the last few rehearsals: the combination works better than the single cylinder.
1914 Motor Cycling 12 May p. v Both Chater Lea combinations ran perfectly throughout.
1919 Bazaar, Exchange & Mart 28 June (Suppl.) 11/1 Wanted, motor cycle combination.
1920 Motor Cycle 2 Dec. 33 (advt.) The Calthorpe 2-Stroke Combination.
1928 Evening News 24 July 1/1 Here two foot police were standing on the bridge and two others were on a motor-cycle combination.
1968 J. Fleming Kill or Cure xiv. 189 I stopped the combination in a lay-by and I screamed at him not to go.
Compounds
C1. General attributive. Also in various mechanical tools or contrivances which combine several functions.
combination-attachment n.
combination-fuse n.
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1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Combination-fuse, a fuse combining the principles of time and percussion.
combination-plane n.
C2.
combination bolt n. one which can be opened only after a certain combination of movements has been performed.
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1902 W. N. Harben Abner Daniel 272 Wilson..then reluctantly turned to the big iron safe against the wall... With his fat, pink hand on the silver-plated combination-bolt he turned to Miller again.
combination car n. U.S., a railroad car designed to be used for more than one purpose.
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1903 C. T. Brady Bishop xv. 277 We were the only passengers in the combination-car—half-baggage, half-passenger.
combination garment n. a close-fitting under-garment worn mostly by women and children, consisting of combined chemise or undershirt and drawers.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > underwear > [noun] > combined clothing for upper or lower parts of body
combination1684
union suit1868
combination garment1884
combi1891
pantywaist1910
cami-knickers1915
cami-petticoat1923
teddy1924
cami-bocker1926
corselette1926
combs1931
all-in-one1939
body stocking1964
teddy bear1978
1884 Internat. Health Exhib. Official Catal. 40/1 Flannel Combination Garment for a child.
1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 24 Oct. 2/2 The combination garment is made in soft merino, suitable for wearing next to the skin..It closely follows the shape of the body that it clothes, and is to the petticoat what a glove with fingers is to a baby's mitten.
combination grate n. (see quot. 1940).
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the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for heating buildings, rooms, etc. > hearth or fireplace > grate
grate1605
fire grate1620
purgatory1707
stove-grate1730
stovea1756
ash-grate1833
basket-grate1889
well-fire1895
well grate1898
hob-grate1915
combination grate1940
1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 180/2 Combination grate, a grate specially designed to supply heat for hot water and cooking, and for heating the room.
1959 B.S.I. News Oct. 18 (heading) Fireguards for solid fuel combination grates.
combination laws n. laws directed against combinations or associations of workmen or masters, repealed in 1824.
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society > law > types of laws > [noun] > industrial
combination laws1833
1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) iii. 25 Imprisonment..under the old combination laws.
1845 Penny Cycl. Suppl. I. 398/2 Combination Laws, the laws known by this name were repealed in 1824. The act passed in 1824 (5 Geo. IV, c. 95) repealed all the statute and common law against combinations of masters and of workmen.
combination lock n. one which can be opened only after a certain combination of movements has been performed.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > lock > combination lock
combination lock1851
combination1909
1851 C. Cist Sketches & Statistics Cincinnati 215 Combination and detector bank lock.
1878 Technol. Dict. (ed. 3) 154/2 Combination-lock, das Vexirschloss.
a1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 210/2 Combination Lock. i. A bank or safe lock,..operated by two graduated dials, whereby one bolt, common to both, is controlled by either of the two independent dials... 2. A permutation lock.
1947 Science Illustr. July 93/1 I want a door-knob with a combination lock fitted into it.
combination-paper n. Cambridge University see quot.
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1874 C. Wordsworth Soc. Life Eng. Univ. 162 ‘Combination-room,’ is said by a good authority to be derived..from their sterner use for business: inasmuch as there were drawn up the ‘first combination paper,’ a list of the Preachers of the Sunday morning University sermons, a certain number of which were appointed—by each college in turn—according to the Prior Combinatio: and of the Preachers on Saints' days and Sunday afternoons..the Posterior Combinatio.
Categories »
combination-pedal n. in Organs, a pedal which acts upon a number of stops at once; also one which, instead of operating upon the drawstops, acts upon the wind-supply (Grove Dict. Music 1880).
combination suit n. = combination garment n.
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1893 A. S. Eccles Sciatica 38 The safest garments for the use of female patients is what is known as a ‘combination suit’.
combination tap n. (see quot.).
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society > occupation and work > equipment > other specific types of equipment > [noun] > tap > types of
washer1596
plug1707
ballcock1734
bib cock1797
draw-off1826
plug cock1826
screw tap1842
waste-cock1844
ball tap1849
self-tapping1878
mixing valve1902
mixer tap1936
combination tap1951
mixer1973
1951 Good Housek. Home Encycl. 281/2 Combination Taps. In these, hot and cold water are delivered through one outlet.
combination tone n. = combinational tone at tone n. 2a(a) (cf. tone n. 2 and resultant note n. at resultant adj. Compounds).
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > harmony or sounds in combination > chord > [noun] > combination tone
resultant note1836
resultant tone1836
summation tone1867
summation-tone (or summational tone)1867
combinational tone1879
combination tone1889
1889 Cent. Dict. Combination tone.
1910 G. B. Shaw How to become Musical Critic (1960) 270 Helmholtz's discovery of overtones, partial tones, combination tones, and the like.
1955 Oxf. Compan. Music (ed. 9) 10/2 When two loud notes are heard together, they give rise to a third and fourth sound... The generic term Resultant Tone (or Combination Tone) is given to these.
combination-union n. a union formed by the combination of several trades-unions.
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society > occupation and work > working > association of employers or employees > [noun] > trade union > formed of several trade unions
combination-union1890
1890 Railway Herald 31 May 11 The majority would be in favour of combination-unions.
Draft additions 1993
Taxonomy. A group of two or more Latin or modern Latin words conjoined to form the name of a species or lower taxon.
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the world > life > biology > taxonomy > [noun] > name of species
specific name1753
typonym1884
tautonym1896
combination1901
1901 Jrnl. Botany 39 69 Mr. Jackson cites Wedelia incarnata (in italics) as from ‘Linn. Syst. ed. X. 890’; this combination, however, is not given by Linnaeus.
1905 Internat. Rules Zool. Nomencl. 35 If it is desired to cite the author of the new combination, his name follows the parenthesis.
1910 Opinions rendered by Internat. Commission Zool. Nomencl. xii. 19 Montgomery, 1903, in adopting the combination Stephanoceros fimbriatus (Goldfuss, 1820) was, under the premises, justified, and this combination should be accepted.
1965 Watsonia 20 Oct. 128 Nevski..decided that the two subgenera were better treated as distinct genera and adopted the generic name Dactylorhiza, making a new combination, D. umbrosa (Kar. & Kir.) Nevski.
1987 Zool. Jrnl. Linn. Soc. 90 189 The morphology of the male terminalia and the forewings..places these two species in Mitrapsylla and the following new combinations are proposed: Mitrapsylla ceplaciensis (White & Hodkinson) comb. nov., Mitrapsylla surinamensis (Šulc) comb. nov.
Draft additions 1997
combination therapy n. a form of treatment in which a patient is given two or more drugs (or other therapeutic agents) for a single disease, esp. cancer.
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the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > treatment by medicine or drug > [noun] > treatment using many drugs
polypharmacy1762
combination therapy1957
1952 Cancer Res. 12 713 (heading) Combination chemotherapy..on a mouse mammary carcinoma.]
1957 Cancer Res. 17 646/1 The principal criterion employed for judging the merits of combination therapy was that the drugs in combination elicit greater antitumor effect.
1990 Sci. Amer. May 38/3 We began her combination therapy with LAK cells and interleukin-2.
1993 Guardian 19 June ii. 11/2 The new buzz word in [AIDS] treatment is combination therapy. The hope is that by giving three or four drugs together, the virus will not be able to mutate fast enough to become resistant to all of them.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.?1533- purple chamomile
- purple cone-flower
- purple coneflower
- purple coot
- purple copper
- purple copper ore
- purple cow-wheat
- purple cowwheat
- purple crow
- purple death
- purple egg
- purple egg-urchin
- purple eggurchin
- purple emperor
- purple father
- purple fever
- purple finch
- purple gallinule
- purple gland
- purple goose-grass
- purple goosegrass
- purple grackle
- purple grass
- purple gromwell
- purple groundsel