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

Related Words

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