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.
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Showing 769–864 of 1187 phrases
Verb + noun(3)
Adjective + noun(43)
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wild boar
a wild pig with tusks, belonging to the species from which domestic pigs developed
wildcat strike
a work stoppage begun by employees without their union's official approval
willful neglect
a deliberate failure to carry out a responsibility or provide required care
windward side
the side of something that faces the direction from which the wind comes
wireless telegraphy
the sending of telegraph messages by radio signals
working hypothesis
a provisional explanation used to guide further investigation
yellow ochre
a yellow earthy pigment containing iron minerals mixed with clay
zoological science
the branch of biology concerned with the study of animals
zygomatic arch
the bony bridge formed between the cheekbone and the temporal bone
abject apology
an expression of regret that shows deep shame or submission
anal sex
sexual activity involving penetration of the anus
auricular confession
a private spoken admission of sins to a priest
autonomic ganglion
a cluster of nerve cells that relays signals controlling involuntary bodily functions
bearded iris
an iris with a line of hairlike growths on its drooping outer flower segments
biblical inerrancy
the religious belief that the Bible is free from error
carnal abuse
a legal term for sexual abuse of a child
cerebrospinal fluid
the clear liquid that surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord
confusing jumble
a disorderly mixture that is difficult to understand or sort out
conjugal visitation
permission for a prisoner to spend private time with a spouse, including sexual intimacy
cosmic catastrophe
a destructive event on the scale of planets, stars, or the wider universe
cowled monk
a male member of a religious community whose head is covered by a hood
crazy quilt
a patchwork bedcover assembled from irregular pieces without a repeated overall pattern
dormant volcano
a volcano that is not currently erupting but may erupt again
dramatic soprano
a soprano with a powerful voice suited to demanding dramatic opera roles
electrolytic cell
a device in which an applied electric voltage drives a chemical reaction
equatorial diameter
the distance across a planet or other body through its center in the plane of its equator
equinoctial line
the imaginary circle around the sky halfway between the celestial poles
extravagant praise
approval expressed in exaggerated or unusually generous terms
fecund imagination
an imagination that produces many ideas or inventions
feudal lord
a nobleman who held authority over land and people in a feudal society
foreign legion
a military unit formed from volunteers who come from other countries
functional anatomy
the study of body structures in relation to the jobs they perform
genial sunshine
pleasantly warm and welcoming sunshine
geodesic line
a curve following a locally shortest route along a surface
infernal region
In religious or mythological accounts, a realm associated with hell or the dead.
marine mussel
a mussel that lives in seawater, often attached to a firm surface
microscopic anatomy
the study of bodily structures too small to examine clearly without magnification
mock sun
a bright spot beside the Sun produced when sunlight passes through ice crystals
mysterious affinity
an attraction or connection whose cause is difficult to explain
pedagogical significance
importance for teaching or learning
perverse satisfaction
pleasure taken in something that would normally seem wrong or unwelcome
planetary nebula
a glowing envelope of gas expelled by a dying star
pleasing aroma
a distinctive smell that is pleasant to experience
Noun + noun(42)
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walrus mustache
a thick mustache that hangs down over the upper lip
water nymph
a female nature spirit associated with a river, lake, or other body of water
water sprite
a small supernatural being believed in stories to live in water
welcome mat
a small mat outside a door on which people wipe their shoes before entering
whisk broom
a small brush with a short handle used to remove dust from clothing
whist drive
a social card-playing event in which people change tables between rounds of whist
wicket gate
a small pedestrian gate, often set within a larger gate
window sill
the horizontal ledge at the bottom of a window opening
winter solstice
the time of year with the shortest daylight period in a hemisphere
witch hazel
a shrub whose bark is used to make an astringent lotion
cantilever bridge
a bridge supported by projecting structures extending from its piers
probate court
a court dealing with wills and the administration of deceased people's estates
alder tree
a moisture-loving tree with toothed leaves, catkins, and small woody cones
alpha radiation
radiation consisting of alpha particles released during radioactive decay
arum lily
a cultivated plant with a large white flower-like sheath surrounding a yellow spike
bile duct
a passage that carries digestive bile from the liver and gallbladder toward the intestine
booby trap
a concealed explosive device set to detonate when an unsuspecting person disturbs it
briar patch
an area densely covered with thorny shrubs or vines
brood hen
a female chicken ready to sit on eggs until they hatch
camphor oil
an aromatic oil obtained by distilling material containing camphor
cassava starch
a carbohydrate powder extracted from cassava roots and used to make tapioca
coast redwood
a very tall evergreen redwood native to the foggy Pacific coast of North America
crepe paper
thin paper with a wrinkled surface, often colored for decorations
dawn horse
an extinct, dog-sized early relative of modern horses with four-toed front feet
feather boa
a long, fluffy scarf made from feathers
food additive
a substance added to food to change its flavor, appearance, or keeping qualities
fox trot
a ballroom dance performed to music with a steady four-beat rhythm
gall bladder
a small organ beneath the liver that stores bile until it is needed for digestion
gourd vine
a climbing or trailing plant that produces hard-rinded gourds
heat prostration
Severe physical weakness or exhaustion caused by excessive heat.
keyhole saw
A hand saw with a narrow pointed blade used to cut small openings and curves.
lamprey eel
a common name for a jawless lamprey, which resembles an eel and has a sucking mouth
marsh mallow
a mallow plant associated with damp ground and pale pink flowers
milk vetch
a plant of the Astragalus group, related to peas and other legumes
mosquito hawk
a regional name for a dragonfly that catches mosquitoes and other small insects
nickel alloy
a metal mixture whose main ingredient is nickel
pickerel weed
a North American aquatic plant with upright clusters of blue flowers
pine marten
a dark brown, tree-climbing marten of northern Eurasian forests
pineapple guava
the fruit also called feijoa, with green skin and pale flesh
poison ivy
a North American climbing plant whose irritating oil can cause a skin rash
poison sumac
a North American wetland shrub whose oil can irritate the skin
portal tomb
a prehistoric stone tomb with large upright entrance stones supporting a capstone
Verb + adverb(3)
Adverb + adjective(5)
-
generally inferior
of lower quality in most cases or respects
genetically transmissible
capable of being passed from parents to offspring through genes
hereto attached
Attached to this document or agreement.
largely inactive
not operating or being used for the most part
nearly orbicular
almost spherical or ball-shaped