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 4609–4704 of 7378 phrases
Verb + noun(1)
Adjective + noun(24)
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sexual intercourse
sexual activity involving penetration
sexual orientation
a person's pattern of sexual or romantic attraction to others
shallow water
water that is not deep
short distance
a small amount of space between places or points
siamese connection
a multiple-hose inlet allowing water to be pumped into a building's sprinkler system
sidereal time
time measured by the apparent daily movement of stars
silent partner
a business partner who invests money but does not take part in everyday management
silly season
a period when trivial stories receive extra news coverage because major news is scarce
silver jubilee
a celebration marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of an event
simple pendulum
an idealized pendulum with a weight suspended from a massless frictionless thread
simple pistil
a flower's female reproductive structure formed from one carpel
simultaneous operation
the running of two or more processes at the same time
single supplement
an extra travel charge paid by someone occupying accommodation alone
singular proposition
a proposition referring to a particular individual through a singular term
sixteenth note
a musical note lasting one sixteenth as long as a whole note
skeletal frame
the internal supporting framework that gives an object its shape
skilled workman
a male worker trained and experienced in a practical trade
skim milk
milk from which the cream has been removed
slack water
water with little or no current, especially around a change of tide
small businessman
a man who runs a business with relatively few employees
small intestine
the long section of the digestive tract where digestion is completed
small investor
an investor who commits relatively limited amounts of money
small size
a limited physical extent or quantity
smoky quartz
quartz with a smoky brown or yellowish color
Noun + noun(51)
-
shadow cabinet
senior opposition politicians assigned to scrutinize corresponding government ministers
shag rug
a rug with a deep layer of long loose fibers
sheath knife
a fixed-blade knife carried in a protective cover
sheepskin coat
a coat made from sheep hide with its wool attached
shelf life
the period for which a stored product remains usable without deteriorating
shepherd dog
a dog bred or trained to herd and guard sheep
shipbuilding industry
the branch of manufacturing concerned with constructing ships
shipping company
a business that transports goods, especially by sea
shipwreck survivor
a person who remains alive after a ship is wrecked
shire town
the town serving as the administrative center of a county
shoestring catch
a baseball catch made while running, just above the ground
shooting preserve
land set aside for hunting during permitted seasons
shop steward
an elected union representative who speaks for workers to management
shopping mall
a large complex containing many shops and often restaurants
shotgun shell
a cartridge containing shot for use in a shotgun
shoulder holster
a gun holder suspended from the shoulder and worn under the arm
shower stall
a small enclosed space fitted for taking a shower
shunt circuit
an electrical circuit with multiple current paths that divide and then rejoin
sickle cell
an abnormal red blood cell with a crescent shape and altered hemoglobin
sieve tube
a chain of joined plant cells through which dissolved nutrients travel
signal caller
the quarterback who directs a team's offensive play in American football
signal detection
the process of determining whether a signal is present
signal strength
the power or intensity of a received signal
signature tune
a melody closely associated with a performer or broadcast program
silicon dioxide
the compound of silicon and oxygen found in quartz and many other minerals
silkworm moth
a moth whose caterpillars produce silk
sine wave
a smooth repeating wave that follows the shape of a sine function
skating rink
a venue with a surface designed for ice skating or roller skating
skeleton key
a key shaped to open several different locks
sketch map
a roughly drawn map showing an area's main features without precise measurement
ski jumper
a skier who competes by jumping through the air from a ramp
skin graft
a piece of skin surgically transferred to cover an injured area
slang term
a very informal word or expression used by a particular group
slant height
the height of a sloping face on a regular pyramid
slave owner
a person who holds other people in slavery
sleep deprivation
the deliberate prevention of sleep, including as a method of psychological torture
sleigh bed
a bed whose solid headboard and footboard curve outward at the top
slime mold
a funguslike organism that can form a moving mass of cell material
slip noose
a loop in a rope that tightens when the rope is pulled
slouch hat
a soft felt hat with a broad flexible brim
sluice valve
a valve or gate controlling water flowing through a channel
slum area
a city district characterized by poverty and poor housing conditions
slush fund
money reserved for secret improper payments, such as bribes
smallpox virus
the virus responsible for the disease smallpox
smoking ban
a rule prohibiting smoking in a particular place or setting
snack bar
a small inexpensive place selling snacks and light refreshments
snail mail
an informal term for physically delivered postal mail
snap brim
a hat brim that can be turned up on one side and down on the other
sneak thief
a thief who steals quietly without using violence
snow leopard
a large mountain cat of central Asia with thick pale fur
snow thrower
a machine that clears snow by scooping it up and throwing it aside
Verb + adverb(14)
-
shore up
to support something with solid props so it cannot collapse
shout out
to say or cry something very loudly
shove off
to leave, especially in an informal or rude expression
shrivel up
to become dry, smaller, and wrinkled
shrug off
to dismiss something as unimportant or refuse to be troubled by it
shut up
to stop talking, often expressed rudely when directed at someone
shy away
to avoid something because of fear, discomfort, or reluctance
sidle up
to seek someone's favor through sly or insincere friendliness
simmer down
to become calmer after anger or excitement
sink in
to become fully understood or emotionally accepted
siphon off
to draw liquid or resources away from a larger supply
slapped down
criticized someone sharply to stop behavior considered unacceptable
slosh around
to move about with repeated or clumsy splashing
sniff out
to discover something by smell or careful investigation
Adverb + adjective(1)
Verb + preposition/particle(5)
-
shone through
emitted light that passed through an opening or material
shrink from
to avoid something through reluctance or fear
sift through
to examine a collection carefully to find useful or suitable items
slice through
to pass through something with a cutting movement
slobber over
to show excessive envy or eager desire for something