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 4033–4128 of 7341 phrases
Adjective + noun(49)
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old bachelor
an older man who has never married
old codger
an informal, often affectionate term for an eccentric older man
old gentleman
an older man referred to politely
olfactory bulb
one of the paired brain structures connected with the sense of smell
onward motion
movement forward toward a destination or goal
open fireplace
an uncovered recess connected to a chimney in which a fire can burn
operational calculus
a method that converts problems such as differential equations into algebraic form
ophthalmic artery
an artery supplying blood to the eye and nearby structures
opposite side
the side facing or lying across from another side
optative mood
a grammatical mood used to express a wish or hope
optic axes
directions in a crystal along which light travels without double refraction
optical illusion
a visual effect that makes something appear different from how it actually is
optical pyrometer
an instrument estimating temperature from the light emitted by a hot object
oral tradition
the passing of stories or knowledge from person to person through speech
orbital velocity
the speed and direction of an object moving around another body
orderly sergeant
a company's first sergeant, historically responsible for passing on orders
ordinal number
a number indicating position in a sequence, such as first or second
organic chemistry
the branch of chemistry concerned mainly with compounds containing carbon
organized labor
workers represented collectively through trade unions
oriental alabaster
a hard compact variety of calcite used as a decorative stone
original sin
in Christian belief, a sinful condition inherited by humanity from Adam
osseous tissue
the mineralized living tissue that forms bone
other side
the side across from or different from the one being considered
outer boundary
the edge marking the outside limit of an area or object
oval window
an opening in the ear to which the base of the stapes bone is attached
overhead projector
a device that projects enlarged images from transparent sheets onto a screen
overseas cap
a soft wedge-shaped cap worn as part of a military uniform
overstuffed chair
an upholstered armchair filled with generous soft padding
pagan religion
a religion described from an Abrahamic perspective as outside Christianity, Judaism, or Islam
painful sensation
a physical feeling that causes discomfort or pain
panoramic view
a broad overview of a subject or situation
papal infallibility
the Catholic belief that the pope is protected from error in certain authoritative teachings on faith or morals
parabolic reflector
a curved reflector that focuses parallel rays or produces a parallel beam from its focus
paradoxical sleep
a recurring sleep stage associated with rapid eye movements and dreaming
parallel axiom
the Euclidean principle that exactly one parallel to a line passes through a point outside it
paramount issue
the issue considered more important than all others
parasitic worm
a worm that lives in another animal and obtains nourishment from its host
parental leave
time away from work allowed for caring for a child or arranging the child's welfare
parenthetical expression
a word or phrase enclosed in parentheses
parietal pleura
the membrane lining the inner chest wall and covering the diaphragm
parliamentary democracy
a democratic system of government organized around an elected parliament
parochial school
a religious school run by a church or parish
parotid gland
a large saliva-producing gland located near the front and lower part of each ear
partial breach
a failure to fulfill part of a contract that does not destroy its overall value
passing comment
a brief incidental remark made without sustained discussion
passive aggression
hostility expressed indirectly through obstruction, delay, or deliberate noncooperation
passive transport
movement of substances across a cell membrane without direct energy expenditure
past participle
a verb form used in perfect constructions, passives, and some adjectives
pastoral letter
a letter from a religious leader giving guidance to members of a church
Noun + noun(35)
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omelet pan
a pan used to cook omelets
onion smut
a fungal disease of onions that produces dark blisterlike growths
opal glass
milky glass that is translucent or opaque
opera cloak
a large cloak worn over formal evening clothes
opium den
a place where opium is sold and used
ordnance store
a stock of military weapons, ammunition, or equipment
outline form
a shortened arrangement showing the main points or structure
outrigger canoe
a canoe with a projecting float that helps prevent it from overturning
overdraft credit
bank credit that covers payments exceeding the available account balance
overflow incontinence
urine leakage that occurs when the bladder becomes excessively full
overtime period
additional playing time used to decide a tied sporting contest
oxygen mask
a face covering connected to a supply of oxygen for breathing
oyster shell
the hard outer covering of an oyster
ozone layer
a region of the upper atmosphere containing ozone that absorbs much solar ultraviolet radiation
package tour
a trip sold for one combined price covering travel and accommodation
packet boat
a boat used to transport mail
paddle wheel
a large rotating wheel with blades that push a boat through water
pain threshold
the lowest level of a stimulus at which someone begins to feel pain
palace car
a railway passenger car offering individual seats for an extra fare
palm kernel
the seed contained within the fruit of an oil palm
panel discussion
a discussion in which several invited speakers address a topic before an audience
panic button
a button pressed to call for help during an emergency
papaya juice
juice made from papaya fruit
paperback book
a book bound with flexible paper or card covers
parachute jumper
a person who jumps from an aircraft using a parachute
parade ground
an open area used for ceremonial or military parades
paraffin wax
a wax obtained from petroleum and used in candles or protective coatings
parcel post
the postal service used for sending packages
parish priest
a priest responsible for the religious life of a parish
parking garage
a building or enclosed structure where vehicles can be parked
participant role
the semantic relationship of a sentence participant to its main verb
party politics
political activity shaped by the interests and competition of political parties
passion fruit
a tropical fruit with an egg-shaped rind and juicy seeded pulp
pasta salad
a salad whose main ingredient is cooked pasta
pastry cook
a cook who specializes in preparing pastry
Verb + adverb(2)
Adverb + adjective(1)
Verb + preposition/particle(1)
Preposition + noun(8)
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on alert
ready to respond quickly to possible danger or an urgent situation
on campus
within the grounds or buildings of a college or university
on display
placed where people can look at it
on horseback
while riding on a horse
on location
at the real place used for filming rather than in a studio
on probation
under a court-ordered period of supervision in the community
on purpose
intentionally, with the aim of causing the result
on vacation
away from ordinary work or routines for a holiday