combination
English meaning: Combination
Definition
The act of combining, the state of being combined or the result of combining.
Example
“Her success comes from a rare combination of talent and hard work.”
Another example: “The treatment uses a combination of medication and physical therapy.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Neutral and common; the act of joining two or more things, or the result of doing so (a winning combination). Also a sequence to open a lock (combination lock). Used in everyday, scientific, and mathematical contexts. Plural 'combinations'.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Late Latin 'combinatio', from 'combinare' (to join two by two), from Latin 'com-' (together) plus 'bini' (two by two); entered English in the 15th century.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- winning combination
- unique combination
- combination of factors
- colour combination
- combination lock
- in combination
Word Forms
combine (v); combined; combining; combination (n); combinatorial (adj)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B