[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/combination.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / combination

[← C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/C/)

# combination

«combination» in Mova's school dictionary: **two or more things joined or mixed together, like a…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

noun (a combination, combinations; combination, uncountable)

### meaning for a pupil

1) A combination is two or more things joined or mixed together, like a combination of colours or flavours. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combination/#m1)

2) A combination is the set of numbers you need to open a combination lock or safe. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combination/#m2)

3) (maths) A combination is one way of choosing items from a group, where the order does not matter. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combination/#m3)

4) Combination is the act of combining things. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combination/#m4)

### sense in the lessons

In maths lessons, pupils list all the possible combinations, for example how many outfits can be made from 3 tops and 2 skirts (3 × 2 = 6). In science, chemicals in combination make new substances. In everyday life, padlocks, safes and lockers have combinations. Phrases: «in combination with», «a winning combination», «combination lock».

### examples

- Red and yellow is a bright combination. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combination/#x1)
- I forgot the combination for my bike lock. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combination/#x2)
- How many combinations can you make with 3 shirts and 4 pairs of trousers? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combination/#x3)
- Hard work and luck were a winning combination. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combination/#x4)
- Salt and vinegar is my favourite crisp combination. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combination/#x5)
- Exercise in combination with good food keeps you healthy. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combination/#x6)
- There are 10 combinations of two different fruits from a bowl of five. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combination/#x7)
- This story is evidently a combination of two widely differing tales. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combination/#x8)

### note

Countable noun: a combination, combinations. Verb: combine. In maths, a combination ignores order (apple-pear is the same as pear-apple); a «permutation» cares about order. A «combination lock» really uses an order, so mathematically it is a permutation.

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «combination» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/combination/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.