combine
B1neutral
Definition
Meaning
To join or merge two or more things together to form a single unit or to function together.
1) (intransitive) To unite for a common purpose or action. 2) (chemistry/physics) To cause substances to react and form a compound or mixture. 3) (agriculture/noun) A combined harvester-thresher machine. 4) (business/noun) A group of enterprises acting together for commercial purposes.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies the merging of distinct elements where the resulting combination is more effective, efficient, or complete than the separate parts. Can connote synergy. As a noun, the stress shifts to the first syllable and the meaning is specialised.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a noun, 'combine' (agricultural machine) is standard in both, though 'combine harvester' is the more common full term in the UK. In business contexts, 'combine' (a group of companies) is understood but less common than 'conglomerate' or 'consortium', especially in British English.
Connotations
The verb is neutral. The agricultural noun has strong rural/industrial connotations. The business noun can have slightly negative, monopolistic connotations.
Frequency
The verb is high-frequency in both varieties. The noun forms are medium-to-low frequency and context-dependent.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] combine [with NP][NP] combine [to-infinitive][NP] and [NP] combine[NP] be combined [with NP] [into NP]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “combine business with pleasure”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to mergers, strategic partnerships, or the pooling of resources. E.g., 'The two firms combined their marketing departments.'
Academic
Used to describe the synthesis of ideas, theories, or data from different sources. Common in science for chemical reactions. E.g., 'The study combines qualitative and quantitative methods.'
Everyday
Most common in cooking, teamwork, and simple tasks. E.g., 'Combine the flour and eggs in a bowl.'
Technical
In computing: to join data sets. In chemistry: to form compounds. In agriculture: the machine (noun).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Let's combine our efforts to get the project finished.
- Hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water.
- The two schools will combine to create a new academy.
American English
- We need to combine the data from both surveys.
- The recipe says to combine the dry ingredients first.
- Several factors combined to cause the market crash.
adjective
British English
- The new model is a combine harvester-baler.
- They formed a combine entity for the bid.
American English
- He drives a combine tractor during harvest.
- The combine operation saved them millions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Combine the blue and yellow paint to make green.
- We can combine our money to buy a pizza.
- The two companies decided to combine in order to compete better.
- Combine the first name and surname into one field.
- Several economic factors combined to trigger the recession.
- This drug should not be combined with alcohol.
- The theory combines insights from linguistics and cognitive psychology.
- The artists collaborated to combine sculpture with interactive digital media.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COMB making several strands of hair into ONE neat unit. COMB-INE.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNITY IS STRENGTH (combining elements creates a more powerful whole).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid calquing 'комбинировать' for every context; it can be overly formal. Use 'mix' or 'put together' for simple physical actions. The noun 'комбайн' corresponds closely to the agricultural 'combine'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect stress: using noun stress /ˈkɒm.baɪn/ for the verb. Incorrect preposition: 'combine together' (redundant). Confusing 'combine' with 'connect' (which implies a looser link).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'combine' used as a noun?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Combine' is a general term for joining things into a whole. 'Merge' often implies a seamless or complete union where boundaries disappear (e.g., companies, roads). 'Mix' implies a less integral blending where components may remain distinguishable (e.g., mixing salad).
It is redundant, as 'combine' already means 'to bring together'. It's best to avoid 'together' in formal writing, though it's heard in casual speech for emphasis.
The verb has stress on the second syllable: /kəmˈbaɪn/. The noun has stress on the first syllable: /ˈkɒm.baɪn/ (UK) or /ˈkɑːm.baɪn/ (US).
Yes, often with 'to' + infinitive or 'with'. E.g., 'Two gases combined to form a liquid.' or 'This paint combines well with oil-based primers.'