Collocations
Collocations
Explore English words that belong together, with meanings, examples, and sentence practice. Browse by CEFR level or pattern, and add collocations to your deck for regular review.
New
Mastered
Showing 673–768 of 1187 phrases
Verb + noun(1)
Adjective + noun(47)
-
solitary confinement
the imprisonment of a person separately from other prisoners
somatic chromosome
a chromosome that is not a sex chromosome
spatial arrangement
the way objects are positioned in relation to one another
spectroscopic analysis
the examination of spectra to investigate the properties of a substance
spiral galaxy
a galaxy with arms that wind outward from its central region
spontaneous combustion
ignition caused by heat generated within a substance itself
spousal relationship
the relationship between two people who are married to each other
spurious correlation
an apparent relationship between variables caused by other factors rather than a direct connection
standing ovation
enthusiastic applause given while the audience stands up
starry night
a night when many stars are visible
statistical mechanics
physics that explains large-scale behavior through statistical descriptions of many particles
stipendiary magistrate
a magistrate paid a regular salary for judicial work
striate cortex
the primary visual area of the cerebral cortex in the occipital region
stubborn streak
a persistent tendency to resist changing one's mind or behavior
synchronous motor
an electric motor whose rotation stays in step with the alternating-current supply
tactual exploration
examining something by feeling its shape, texture, or firmness
temporal lobe
the part of each brain hemisphere situated near the temple
tensile stress
internal stress in a material caused by forces pulling it apart
testamentary trust
a trust created by a will that takes effect after the will-maker dies
thermal equilibrium
a state in which temperatures are equal and no net heat flows between the parts
thermonuclear reaction
a nuclear fusion reaction occurring at extremely high temperature
titanic acid
a weak acid described as a hydrated form of titanium dioxide
topological space
a mathematical set equipped with a structure specifying its open subsets
total depravity
the Calvinist doctrine that original sin affects every aspect of human nature
totalitarian state
a state that uses coercion to control political and private life extensively
transuranic element
a chemical element whose atomic number is greater than uranium's ninety-two
transverse colon
the section of the large intestine that crosses the abdomen
traumatic epilepsy
epilepsy that develops as a result of a head injury
trigonometric function
a mathematical function connecting angles with ratios of lengths
tympanic membrane
the thin membrane in the ear that vibrates in response to sound
typographical error
a mistake introduced when text is typed or prepared for printing
ultramarine blue
a rich blue pigment traditionally obtained from lapis lazuli
unconditional surrender
surrender without imposing conditions on the opposing side
undulatory theory
the theory that light travels as waves
universal solvent
an imaginary substance sought by alchemists that could dissolve every material
valvular incompetence
a condition in which a valve in the body cannot close fully
vascular strand
a bundle of plant tissues that transports water and nutrients
vegetative cell
a body cell that does not function as a reproductive cell
venereal disease
an illness passed from one person to another through sexual contact
venial sin
in Catholic teaching, a less serious wrongdoing that does not completely separate a person from God's grace
vernal equinox
the spring event when the sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north
vertebrate paleontology
the study of animals with backbones through their fossil remains
vertical integration
business ownership or control of several successive stages of producing and selling a product
vestal virgin
a priestess of Vesta in ancient Rome who maintained the goddess's sacred fire and remained unmarried and chaste
vitreous chamber
the space behind the lens of the eye that contains transparent gel
vocational rehabilitation
training and support that help a person develop or recover skills needed for employment
voluntary manslaughter
an intentional unlawful killing classified as a less serious offense than murder
Noun + noun(43)
-
sodium silicate
a glassy sodium compound used in solutions for adhesives and protective coatings
sonata form
a musical structure organized around exposition, development, and recapitulation
sonny boy
a familiar form of address for a young boy
spade bit
a flat drill bit with a central point and cutting edges on each side
spark transmitter
an early radio transmitter that generated signals using an electrical spark discharge
speech intelligibility
the degree to which spoken words can be understood
splinter group
a group that has broken away from a larger organization
springer spaniel
a large spaniel with a silky wavy coat, often white with dark patches
star anise
a star-shaped aromatic fruit used as a spice in cooking
steam locomotive
a railway locomotive driven by a steam engine
sternocleidomastoid muscle
a large neck muscle that helps turn and bend the head
stirrup cup
a farewell drink offered to someone about to depart on horseback
stretch limousine
a limousine lengthened to provide extra passenger space
string quintet
a musical ensemble consisting of five string players
superposition principle
the geological principle that lower sedimentary layers are older than those above them in an undisturbed sequence
survivorship annuity
an annuity that pays a surviving beneficiary after another beneficiary dies
taffrail log
a ship-speed measuring device towed astern with rotating fins
tangent plane
a plane containing the tangent lines through a particular point on a surface
tax evasion
the deliberate illegal avoidance of paying tax that is owed
tea urn
a large vessel used to prepare or dispense tea
terminal emulation
software behavior that makes a computer act like a particular terminal
thoroughbred racing
horse racing in which the competing horses are Thoroughbreds
tongue depressor
a thin instrument used to hold the tongue down during a mouth examination
tooth enamel
the hard outer layer covering the visible part of a tooth
trade unionism
the principles and practices of workers organizing in trade unions
treasure trove
a discovered collection of hidden valuable objects
tree stump
the lower part of a tree left after it has been cut down
trench mortar
a short-barreled weapon historically used to fire shells at steep angles from trenches
trundle bed
a low bed that can be stored beneath another bed
truss bridge
a bridge supported by a framework of connected structural members
tsetse fly
an African blood-feeding fly that can transmit sleeping sickness
tubercle bacillus
a bacterium that causes tuberculosis
turf war
a struggle between groups for territory, influence, or control
twilight glow
the soft light visible in the sky around dusk
typhus fever
a rickettsial infection associated with high fever and rash
uranium ore
rock or mineral material from which uranium can be obtained
uranyl nitrate
a yellow nitrate salt containing the uranyl ion
urge incontinence
involuntary urine leakage associated with a sudden strong need to urinate
valet parking
a service in which an attendant parks and returns a customer's car
vanadium steel
steel containing vanadium to improve strength and stability at high temperatures
vigilance committee
a group of residents organized to enforce order where official law enforcement is absent or ineffective
vortex vein
one of the veins that drain blood from the vascular layer at the back of the eye
voting precinct
a local election district whose voters use an assigned polling place