mixtures
mixtures — noun
- mixturessingular
- mixturesesplural
1. A substance created by putting together two or more different things, where each
A substance created by putting together two or more different things, where each ingredient keeps its own qualities — like flour and eggs to make cake batter, or sand and cement to create concrete.
Tara poured the cake mixture into two greased tins and baked them for thirty minutes.
collocation: cake mixture / pour mixture into tin
The trail mix that Diego brought to school was a mixture of peanuts, raisins, and dark chocolate chips.
collocation: trail mix / a mixture of [ingredients]
Air is not a single gas but a natural mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, and several other gases.
A strange mixture of modern skyscrapers and old temples gives Kuala Lumpur its unique character.
Sofie combined flour, eggs, and milk into a smooth mixture before adding the vanilla extract.
- blend
suggests a smoother, more uniform combination, often used for food or drinks
- combination
more general term; does not imply physical mixing, just things put together
- compound
implies chemical bonding rather than loose mixing — not interchangeable with 'mixture' in science contexts
- fusion
suggests a seamless merging of styles, cultures, or musical genres
- separate
things kept apart rather than combined
- pure substance
a material made of only one kind of particle, not a mixture
用法筆記
Frequently used in cooking, chemistry, and descriptions of places or populations. The preposition 'of' introduces the elements being combined.
常見錯誤
2. The action or process of combining different substances or elements together, ra
The action or process of combining different substances or elements together, rather than the resulting substance itself.
The slow mixture of oil and vinegar in the dressing requires steady whisking for at least a minute.
grammar pattern: the [adj] mixture of [A] and [B] for process reading
Abigail achieved the perfect colour through a careful mixture of blue and yellow paint.
Emre watched the gradual mixture of red dye into the clear water with fascination.
The mixture of classical Indian instruments with electronic beats created a fresh new sound.
Sumin learned that the proper mixture of chemicals in the lab must follow strict safety rules.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (COMBINATION OF SUBSTANCES): this sense describes the act of mixing, not the resulting substance. A test is whether you can replace 'mixture' with 'mixing' — if the sentence works, the process sense is intended.
常見錯誤
3. A liquid medicine that contains solid particles which can settle at the bottom,
A liquid medicine that contains solid particles which can settle at the bottom, so you must shake the bottle before you take a dose.
Mayumi shook the brown bottle of cough mixture before pouring a spoonful for her son.
collocation: cough mixture / shake bottle before use
The doctor prescribed a pink mixture for Daniel's stomach infection and told him to take it after meals.
Jin kept a bottle of the mixture in his medicine cabinet in case his allergies flared up again.
Sivan read the instructions carefully and shook the mixture for ten seconds before drinking it.
- cough syrup
more common in American English; 'cough mixture' is more common in British English
- medicine
a broader term; not all medicines are mixtures
- suspension
the technical pharmaceutical term for a liquid with undissolved particles
用法筆記
This sense is specific to liquid pharmaceuticals sold in bottles that require shaking before each use. Common in the phrase 'cough mixture'. Not used for tablets, capsules, or creams.