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 2593–2688 of 7341 phrases
Adjective + noun(31)
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canned laughter
recorded laughter added to a program to suggest an audience's reaction
capillary tube
a very narrow tube in which liquid can move through capillary action
capitalist economy
an economic system in which capital and businesses are mainly privately owned
carbolic acid
phenol, a poisonous chemical used in manufacturing and some disinfectants
cardiac output
the volume of blood the heart pumps in a given amount of time
cardiac pacemaker
specialized tissue in the heart that sets the rhythm of the heartbeat
cardiac resuscitation
emergency efforts to restore effective circulation when the heart has stopped working
cardinal rule
a rule considered fundamental and especially important to follow
carnivorous plant
a plant that traps and digests small animals, usually insects
catastrophic illness
a severe illness involving prolonged care or recovery and major expense
cautious statement
a statement carefully qualified to avoid claiming too much
cavernous sinus
one of two large spaces inside the skull through which venous blood flows
celestial equator
an imaginary circle in the sky corresponding to Earth's equator
celestial sphere
an imaginary sphere surrounding Earth on which stars and other celestial objects appear to lie
cellular respiration
chemical processes within cells that release usable energy from nutrients
central sulcus
a major groove on each side of the brain separating the frontal and parietal lobes
centralized control
direction of activities from one main authority or decision-making point
centrifugal pump
a pump that moves fluid outward using a rotating mechanism
centripetal force
a force directed toward the center of an object's curved path
cerebral aqueduct
a narrow channel connecting the third and fourth fluid-filled cavities of the brain
cerebral hemorrhage
bleeding within the brain caused by a broken blood vessel
ceremonial occasion
a formal event marked by traditional or official actions
cerulean blue
a blue pigment with a slight green tint used in painting
cervical canal
the narrow passage through the cervix connecting the uterus and vagina
chaotic attractor
a pattern of states toward which a system with chaotic behavior develops
characteristic curve
a graph showing how a device's behavior changes with another measured quantity
chemical stability
the ability of a substance to resist changes in its chemical composition
chief constable
the officer who leads a regional police force
choice morsel
a small piece of food considered especially tasty
choral ode
an ode sung by the chorus in classical Greek drama
chromatic scale
a musical scale that moves through every semitone in an octave
Noun + noun(56)
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candle holder
an object that supports a candle and keeps it upright
canister shot
ammunition consisting of a metal container packed with small projectiles
canon law
the written rules governing the organization and conduct of a Christian church
canvas tent
a tent made from strong canvas fabric
capital expenditure
money spent to acquire or improve assets intended for long-term use
capital levy
a tax charged on a person's or organization's accumulated wealth or property
car salesman
a man whose job is to sell cars
caramel apple
an apple coated in a firm layer of caramel
caraway seed
a strongly flavored seed used as a spice, especially in bread and savory dishes
carbon dating
estimating the age of once-living material by measuring its radioactive carbon
carborundum stone
an abrasive stone made with silicon carbide for sharpening tools
cargo cult
a religious movement, especially in Melanesia, expecting a new age of prosperity through the arrival of material goods
cargo helicopter
a helicopter designed or used to transport goods
carpenter ant
an ant that makes tunnels in wood for its nest
carpet beater
a handheld tool used to strike carpets and remove dust
carrot juice
a drink made by extracting liquid from carrots
casement window
a window with a hinged frame that swings open
cash basis
an accounting method that records transactions when money is actually received or paid
cash register
a shop machine that records sales and usually holds cash
cassette recorder
a device that records or plays sound on cassette tapes
caste system
a social structure in which inherited group membership determines people's position
castor bean
the poisonous seed of the plant from which castor oil is obtained
castration anxiety
in psychoanalysis, fear that one's sexual organs or sexual capacity will be damaged or lost
cathedral church
a church containing the official seat of a bishop
cathode ray
a stream of electrons coming from the negative electrode in a discharge tube
cattle grid
metal bars across a road opening that vehicles can cross but cattle generally avoid
cauliflower ear
an outer ear that has become thickened and misshapen after injury
cave dweller
a person who makes a home inside a cave
cavity resonator
a hollow chamber shaped to sustain particular sound or electromagnetic vibrations
celery seed
the small aromatic seeds of celery used to flavor food
cereal box
the cardboard package in which breakfast cereal is sold
chain gang
a group of prisoners fastened together with chains while working
chamois cloth
a soft piece of chamois leather used to clean or polish surfaces
champagne flute
a tall narrow glass used for serving champagne
channel capacity
the highest rate at which a communication channel can carry data
character assassination
a deliberate attack intended to destroy a person's reputation
chariot race
a contest in which drivers compete using horse-drawn chariots
charter member
one of the people who belonged to an organization when it began
chat room
an online space where several people exchange messages in real time
checkout counter
the surface in a shop where purchases are presented and paid for
cheek pouch
a pocket inside an animal's cheek used to hold food
cheese slicer
a utensil designed to cut thin even slices of cheese
chess game
a contest played by two people using the rules and pieces of chess
chestnut blight
a disease that damages or kills chestnut trees
cheval glass
a full-length mirror supported in a frame that allows it to tilt
chicken breast
meat from the front of a chicken's body, often sold as a separate cut
chicken coop
a small building or enclosure where chickens are kept
chicken drumstick
the lower part of a chicken's leg used as meat
chicken paprika
chicken cooked with onions and paprika and finished with sour cream
chicory root
the root of chicory, dried or roasted for use as a coffee substitute
chiffon cake
a cake with a very light and airy texture
chili pepper
a small pepper with a strong hot taste, used to flavor food
chin strap
a band that passes under the chin to hold headgear in place
chlorine dioxide
a chlorine and oxygen compound used for bleaching and water treatment
chocolate cake
a cake made with chocolate as a main flavor
choir loft
a raised gallery in a church where the choir sings
Verb + adverb(6)
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cast aside
to throw something out of the way or discard it
cheer up
to make someone feel happier or become happier oneself
chew up
to criticize someone severely and angrily
chill out
to become calm and relaxed after feeling tense or upset
chime in
to join a conversation by adding a comment
choke off
to stop or severely restrict an activity or flow