Definition of 'combine'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense combines, present participle combining
, past tense, past participle combined
pronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (kəmbaɪn
). The noun is pronounced (kɒmbaɪn
).
1. verb
If improved education is combined with other factors dramatic results can be achieved. [VERB noun with noun]
Relief workers say it's worse than ever as disease and starvation combine to kill
thousands. [VERB to-infinitive]
[Also VERB noun]2. verb
David Jacobs was given the job of combining the data from these 19 studies into one
giant study. [VERB noun]
3. verb
If someone or something combines two qualities or features, they have both those qualities or features at the same time.
...a clever, far-sighted lawyer who combines legal expertise with social concern. [VERB noun + with]
5. verb
If two or more groups or organizations combine or if someone combines them, they join to form a single group or organization.
...an announcement by Steetley and Tarmac of a joint venture that would combine their
operations. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB noun + with] 6. countable noun
A combine is a group of people or organizations that are working or acting together.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
combine in British English
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
combinable (comˈbinable) adjective
combinability (comˌbinaˈbility)
noun
combiner (comˈbiner)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Late Latin combīnāre, from Latin com- together + bīnī two by two
Word Frequency
combine in American English
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: comˈbined or comˈbining
2.
to unite to form a chemical compound
noun
5.
an association of persons, corporations, etc. for commercial or political, sometimes unethical, purposes
SIMILAR WORDS: join
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
combinable (comˈbinable)
adjective
combiner (comˈbiner)
noun
Word origin
ME combinen < OFr combiner < LL combinare, to unite < L com-, together + bini, two by two < base of bis: see bi-1Word Frequency
combine in American English
(verb for 1, 2, 6 kəmˈbain, for 3, 7 ˈkɑmbain, noun for 8, 9 ˈkɑmbain, kəmˈbain, for 10 ˈkɑmbain) (verb -bined, -bining)
transitive verb
1.
She combined the ingredients to make the cake
They combined the two companies
3.
to harvest (grain) with a combine
intransitive verb
5.
to unite for a common purpose; join forces
After the two factions combined, they proved invincible
6.
to enter into chemical union
7.
to use a combine in harvesting
noun
SYNONYMS 1. compound, amalgamate. See mix. 9. merger, monopoly, alignment, bloc.ANTONYMS 1, 4. separate.8.
9.
a combination of persons or groups for the furtherance of their political, commercial, or other interests, as a syndicate, cartel, or trust
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
combiner noun
Word origin
[1375–1425; late ME combinen (‹ MF combiner) ‹ LL combīnāre, equiv. to com- com- + -bīnāre, v. deriv. of bīnī by twos (cf. binary)]Examples of 'combine' in a sentence
combine
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In other languages
combine
British English: combine
/kəmˈbaɪn/ VERB
If you combine two or more things, or if they combine, they exist or join together.
Combine the flour with 3 tablespoons of water.
- American English: combine /kəmˈbaɪn/
- Arabic: يَجْمَعُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: combinar
- Chinese: 结合
- Croatian: kombinirati
- Czech: kombinovat
- Danish: kombinere
- Dutch: combineren
- European Spanish: combinar
- Finnish: yhdistää
- French: combiner
- German: verbinden Zusammenfuegung
- Greek: συνδυάζω
- Italian: combinare
- Japanese: 結合する
- Korean: 결합시키다
- Norwegian: forene
- Polish: połączyć zmieszać
- European Portuguese: combinar
- Romanian: a combina
- Russian: сочетать
- Latin American Spanish: combinar
- Swedish: kombinera
- Thai: ผสมกัน
- Turkish: birleştirmek
- Ukrainian: змішувати
- Vietnamese: kết hợp
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combine
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combine
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Definition of combine from the Collins English Dictionary
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