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 3841–3936 of 7341 phrases
Adjective + noun(50)
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mercantile establishment
a business premises where goods are sold
mercurial ointment
a salve made with mercury for application to the skin
merry christmas
a greeting wishing someone a happy Christmas
metallic element
a chemical element with the characteristic properties of a metal
metamorphic rock
rock transformed by heat or pressure
metatarsal artery
an artery that supplies the metatarsal region of the foot
meteorological balloon
an unmanned balloon used to collect information about the atmosphere
methodological analysis
examination of the principles and procedures used to investigate a subject
metric ton
a unit of mass equal to one thousand kilograms
metrical foot
a small recurring group of syllables forming a unit of poetic rhythm
metropolitan area
a large city together with its closely connected surrounding communities
milch cow
a cow kept for the milk it produces
mild steel
steel containing a small proportion of carbon
military censorship
the control or suppression of information by armed forces
military junta
a group of officers ruling a country after taking power
military policeman
a male military police officer who enforces rules among service personnel
military posture
a country's or force's readiness and capacity for military action
military uniform
the prescribed clothing worn by members of an armed force
minimal art
art that uses strongly simplified forms and colors
minimum wage
the lowest pay rate permitted by an applicable law or agreement
minor mode
a musical key or mode based on a minor scale
mint condition
a state as good as new, without noticeable wear or damage
missionary work
organized religious activity intended to spread a faith
mixed metaphor
an expression combining incompatible metaphors in a confusing or absurd way
mobile canteen
a movable food-service unit serving people outside a fixed restaurant
modal auxiliary
an auxiliary verb that expresses meanings such as possibility, necessity, or permission
moderate breeze
a wind classified as force four on the Beaufort scale
molar concentration
the amount of dissolved substance in moles per liter of solution
molecular biologist
a scientist who studies biological processes at the molecular level
molecular biology
the study of living systems through the structure and activity of their molecules
molecular genetics
the study of genetic material and its activity at the molecular level
monastic habit
a long, loose garment worn by members of a monastic order
monetary policy
policies affecting money, credit, and borrowing conditions in an economy
monogamous marriage
a marriage involving only two spouses at a time
moral certainty
a strong inward conviction that something is true despite lacking absolute proof
moral nihilism
the view that nothing is inherently morally right or wrong
moral obligation
a duty based on a sense of right and wrong
morbid curiosity
an unhealthy or excessive interest in disturbing or unpleasant subjects
mortal enemy
an enemy who wishes to destroy or kill someone
motley crew
a group made up of very different kinds of people
moving stairway
a stairway with continuously moving steps that carry people between levels
multiple birth
a birth involving more than one baby from the same pregnancy
multiplicative inverse
a number that gives a result of one when multiplied by a particular nonzero number
municipal government
the governing authority responsible for a city or town
mural painting
the practice of creating paintings directly on walls
muscular tonus
the normal resting tension maintained in muscles
musical harmony
the combination and progression of notes or chords sounding together
musical octave
an interval spanning eight notes of a standard musical scale
musical score
the written notation of a musical work, including its instrumental parts
musical soiree
an evening social gathering arranged for listening to music
Noun + noun(39)
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mercury fulminate
a sensitive explosive compound of mercury formerly used in ignition devices
mercy killing
the intentional ending of a life to relieve severe suffering
merit badge
a badge awarded in scouting for completing work or demonstrating a skill
messenger boy
a boy employed to carry messages or run errands
meteor swarm
a group of meteoroids traveling along similar paths
meter reading
the value shown by an instrument that measures a quantity
methane series
the family of saturated hydrocarbons beginning with methane
micrometer gauge
a precision measuring instrument for determining very small distances or dimensions
microphone boom
a long support that holds a microphone above or beyond the camera's view
microwave oven
a kitchen appliance that heats food using microwaves
midnight sun
the sun remaining visible at midnight in polar regions
migration route
a path regularly followed by migrating birds
milk float
a delivery vehicle, often electric, used to bring milk to homes
milk whey
the watery liquid separated from milk curds during cheesemaking
mine detector
a device used to locate buried explosive mines
mineral deficiency
a shortage of a mineral needed for normal nutrition or bodily function
mink coat
a coat made from mink fur
minstrel show
a historical entertainment form using blackface and racist caricatures of Black people
minus sign
the symbol used to indicate subtraction or a negative value
minute steak
a thin steak intended to cook very quickly
miracle worker
someone believed or claimed to perform extraordinary acts through miraculous power
mitre box
a guide that holds a saw at set angles for cutting joints
molybdenum steel
steel alloyed with molybdenum to alter its properties
monsoon forest
a tropical woodland growing in a region with seasonal monsoon rains
morale builder
something that raises people's confidence or enthusiasm
morality play
an allegorical drama in which characters represent moral qualities
mortgage application
a formal request to obtain a loan secured on property
mortise joint
a connection made by fitting a projecting tenon into a matching hole
motor scooter
a small powered two-wheeled vehicle with a low riding platform
motorcycle cop
a police officer who patrols on a motorcycle
mountain bike
a sturdy bicycle designed for riding over rough ground
mountain climber
a person who climbs mountains as a sport or activity
mud puddle
a small pool of muddy water
mug shot
a photograph of a person's face made for identification, especially police records
mulberry tree
a tree that bears small, clustered edible fruits resembling blackberries
murder conviction
a legal finding that someone is guilty of murder
murder indictment
a formal accusation charging someone with murder
museum curator
a specialist responsible for a museum's collections and displays
music lover
a person who takes great pleasure in listening to music
Verb + adverb(6)
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mete out
to distribute or administer something, especially a punishment
mist over
to become covered with a thin layer of mist or condensation
mope around
to move or spend time aimlessly while feeling unhappy
move involuntarily
to move without deliberate control
mow down
to kill or strike down many people indiscriminately
muck up
to spoil something or make a mess of it