combination
/ˌkɒmbɪˈneɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkɑːmbɪˈneɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌkäm-bə-ˈnā-shən/ (ame, mw)
combination — noun
- combinationsingular
- combinationsplural
1. A result, substance, or situation created by joining two or more different eleme
A result, substance, or situation created by joining two or more different elements, qualities, or ingredients together.
A combination of skill, patience, and luck helped Ravi win the chess tournament.
countable: a combination of + abstract nouns
The doctor recommended a combination of rest and light exercise for a full recovery.
collocation: recommend / prescribe a combination of
Theo's new painting uses an unusual combination of deep blue and bright orange.
Selection is by combination of test scores and interview performance for the scholarship program.
The combination of rising costs and falling sales forced the bakery to close.
- mixture
more general — any substance made by mixing; 'combination' suggests deliberate or designed joining
- blend
suggests smooth, thorough mixing; often used for flavours, colours, or personalities
- mix
informal; a casual combination without implying design
- compound
more technical; a substance whose parts are chemically bonded
- separation
the opposite state or action of keeping things apart
- division
the act of splitting into parts
文法句型
combination of + nouns
a combination of + noun phrase
in combination (with)
用法筆記
As a countable noun (a combination) it refers to a specific result or mixture. As an uncountable noun (by combination, through combination) it describes the process or method of combining. Countable use is far more frequent in everyday English.
常見錯誤
2. A group of items arranged in a specific order, where changing the order creates
A group of items arranged in a specific order, where changing the order creates a different result.
Yusuf rearranged the letters in every possible combination until the word "garden" finally appeared.
rearranged + every possible combination — exhaustive search of orderings
Chess players study thousands of different combinations of moves before a match.
combination of moves — countable, with numbers
For the school play, the director tried several combinations of actors in each role before choosing the cast.
Memorizing the combination of dance steps in the right order was harder than Priya expected.
- arrangement
broader — any ordering; 'combination' implies intent to achieve a specific outcome
- sequence
focuses on the linear order; often used for numbers or events
- permutation
formal mathematical term; each distinct ordering of a set
文法句型
combination of + plural nouns
every possible combination
different combinations of + nouns
用法筆記
Countable only. Emphasises the ordering of elements — the same ingredients in a different order count as a different combination. Common in maths, puzzles, cooking, and design contexts.
常見錯誤
3. A secret code made up of digits or characters, entered in a fixed order to unloc
A secret code made up of digits or characters, entered in a fixed order to unlock a safe, a lock, or another security device.
I forgot the combination to my gym locker and called the front desk for help.
preposition: combination to [something]
The bank manager keeps the vault combination inside a sealed envelope.
Noa changed the combination on her suitcase lock before the trip to Japan.
Turn the dial to the right, then left, then right again to enter the combination.
The locksmith tried every possible combination of numbers to open the old safe.
文法句型
combination to + lock type
combination for + device
enter / dial / change / forget a combination
用法筆記
Countable only. A combination lock uses a dial; modern keypads use a 'PIN' or 'passcode', not a combination. The typical preposition is 'to' (the combination to a safe) or 'on' (the combination on a lock).