an alliance of people or parties; group having a common purpose
4.
a.
the set of numbers that opens a combination lock
b.
the mechanism of this type of lock
5. British
a motorcycle with a sidecar attached
6. mathematics
a.
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
b.
a group formed in this way. The number of combinations of n objects taken r at a time is n!/[(n – r)!r!]. Symbol: nCr
Compare permutation (sense 1)
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
combinational (ˌcombiˈnational)
adjective
combination in American English
(ˌkɑmbəˈneɪʃən)
noun
1.
a combining or being combined
2.
a thing formed by combining
3.
an association of persons, firms, political parties, etc. for a common purpose
4.
a.
the series of numbers or letters used in opening a combination lock
b.
the mechanism operating such a lock
5.
a one-piece undergarment combining an undershirt and drawers
6. Chemistry
a uniting of substances to form a compound
7. Ancient Mathematics
any of the various groupings, or subsets, into which a number, or set, of units may be arranged without regard to order: dual combinations of A, B, C, and D are AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, CD
see also permutation
8. Pool
a shot in which an object ball is pocketed as a result of being struck by another object ball
: in full combination shot
Derived forms
combinational (ˌcombiˈnational)
adjective
Word origin
ME combinacioun < LL combinatio, a joining two by two
COBUILD Collocations
combination
colour combination
dangerous combination
flavour combination
ideal combination
lethal combination
potent combination
Examples of 'combination' in a sentence
combination
His policy is seen as a combination of two previously successful presidents.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
White now exploited this by setting up a winning combination.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
For her, it is the perfect combination.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Adding spices is another brilliant way to boost flavour, so experiment with different combinations.
The Sun (2016)
Get the combination right and the door swings open; a fawning reception awaits.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
England's outstanding lock combination is absent.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
An incoming tide, sand bars and breeze is a lethal combination for such people of little swimming ability.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
England have so many really good backs there, it's about getting the combinations right and letting them loose.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's a toxic combination that leads people such as yourself to feel as if they can't commit to anything.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They have gelled as a perfect combination in the centre.
The Sun (2012)
You may have a combination of different feelings when you think about your debt problems.
Tondeur, Keith Say Goodbye to Debt (1994)
It took nine months to come up with the right combination of ingredients.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The rains were driven by a rare combination of weather.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Salvation in a bottle for people with combination skin.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Visitors are banned from the courtyard and all buildings are secured with chains and combination locks.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The causes are usually a combination of factors.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
To have the combination of those two things is very special.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The two together seem to be a winning combination.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It was at times a dazzling combination.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
How do you play this suit combination for one loser?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It means the twins inherited a different combination of genes from their parents.
The Sun (2015)
It is about making sure the combination is right.
The Sun (2013)
Only then will you pick up on this rare combination of insights and inspired ideas.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
People think that combination will only end in tears.
The Sun (2013)
My lock combination is a classic blend of power and dynamism.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
So it really was a good combination of factors.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Therefore a combination of the two is not nearly as contradictory as it sometimes seems.
Overbeek, Henk Global Capitalism and National Decline (1989)
The inner steel of your ambition is softened by outer charm and this is a winning combination.
The Sun (2011)
Can you actually measure the time a new combination requires?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We know too much about the world not to expect some efforts to form combinations in restraint of trade.
Kantrow, Alan M. The Constraints of Corporate Tradition (1987)
Line up the accessories to form a winning combination and you'll be in the money.
The Sun (2009)
These are screened for safety before use, but the research will examine whether a combination of chemicals may cause damage to bees.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
combination
British English: combination /ˌkɒmbɪˈneɪʃən/ NOUN
A combination is a mixture of things.
...a fantastic combination of colours.
American English: combination
Arabic: مَجْمُوعَة
Brazilian Portuguese: combinação
Chinese: 组合
Croatian: kombinacija
Czech: kombinace
Danish: kombination
Dutch: combinatie
European Spanish: combinación
Finnish: yhdistelmä
French: combinaison mélange
German: Kombination
Greek: συνδυασμός
Italian: combinazione
Japanese: 組み合わせ
Korean: 결합
Norwegian: kombinasjon
Polish: połączenie mieszanina
European Portuguese: combinação
Romanian: combinație
Russian: сочетание
Latin American Spanish: combinación Unión de dos cosas
Swedish: kombination
Thai: การรวมกัน
Turkish: birleştirme
Ukrainian: поєднання
Vietnamese: sự kết hợp
All related terms of 'combination'
colour combination
A combination of things is a mixture of them.
combination lock
A combination lock is a lock which can only be opened by turning a dial or a number of dials according to a particular series of letters or numbers.
combination room
(at Cambridge University ) a common room
combination skin
facial skin that is dry in some areas and greasy in others
combination tone
a musical sound sometimes heard when two loud notes are sounded together, either lower in pitch than either ( differential tone ) or higher ( summational tone )
ideal combination
A combination of things is a mixture of them.
lethal combination
A combination of things is a mixture of them.
potent combination
A combination of things is a mixture of them.
combination sandwich
a big sandwich with a mixed filling
combination therapy
a therapy that combines two or more drugs, or two or more treatments
dangerous combination
A combination of things is a mixture of them.
flavour combination
A combination of things is a mixture of them.
motorcycle combination
a motorcycle with a sidecar attached
Ritz combination principle
the principle that the frequencies of lines in atomic spectra can be represented as differences of a smaller number of terms, all characteristic of the emitting system, interpreted in quantum theory as the emission of exactly one photon in a transition between energy levels
triple combination therapy
treatment with three different drugs
Chinese translation of 'combination'
combination
(kɔmbɪˈneɪʃən)
n(c)
(= mixture) 混合 (hùnhé) (种(種), zhǒng)
(for lock, safe etc) 密码(碼) (mìmǎ)
1 (noun)
Definition
people or things combined
A combination of factors are to blame.
Synonyms
mixture
a mixture of spiced, grilled vegetables
mix
a magical mix of fantasy and reality
compound
Organic compounds contain carbon in their molecules.
blend
He makes up his own blends of flour.
composite
Spain is a composite of diverse traditions and people.
amalgam
I tend to make my characters an amalgam of several people.
amalgamation
The organization was formed by an amalgamation of two groups.
meld
coalescence
2 (noun)
Definition
the act of combining or state of being combined
The company's chief executive has proposed a merger or other business combination.
Synonyms
association
the British Olympic Association
union
the question of which countries should join the currency union
alliance
The two parties were still too much apart to form an alliance.
coalition
He had been opposed by a coalition of civil-rights organizations.
merger
the proposed merger of the two banks
federation
the British Athletic Federation
consortium
unification
the unification of Italy in 1870
syndicate
They formed a syndicate to buy the car.
confederation
cartel
confederacy
Vienna was established as the political and cultural capital of a new confederacy of Germanic states.
cabal
He had been chosen by a cabal of fellow senators.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of alliance
Definition
a formal relationship between two or more countries or political parties to work together
The two parties were still too much apart to form an alliance.
Synonyms
union,
league,
association,
agreement,
marriage,
connection,
combination,
coalition,
treaty,
partnership,
federation,
pact,
compact,
confederation,
affinity,
affiliation,
confederacy,
concordat
in the sense of amalgam
Definition
a blend or combination
I tend to make my characters an amalgam of several people.
Synonyms
combination,
mixture,
compound,
blend,
union,
composite,
fusion,
alloy,
amalgamation,
meld,
admixture
in the sense of amalgamation
The organization was formed by an amalgamation of two groups.