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 4801–4896 of 7378 phrases
Adjective + noun(34)
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starry night
a night when many stars are visible
stately home
a large impressive country house associated with an aristocratic family
statistical mechanics
physics that explains large-scale behavior through statistical descriptions of many particles
statutory rape
sexual activity classified as rape because a participant is below the legal age of consent
sticky end
an end of double-stranded DNA where one strand extends beyond the other
still life
a painting or drawing of arranged objects such as fruit or flowers
stimulant drug
a drug that temporarily increases activity in the body or nervous system
stipendiary magistrate
a magistrate paid a regular salary for judicial work
stolen goods
items taken from their owners without permission
stormy weather
weather marked by strong winds, rain, or other storm conditions
strategic advantage
a benefit that improves someone's position in achieving an overall objective
striate cortex
the primary visual area of the cerebral cortex in the occipital region
structural linguistics
the study of language through the formal relationships among its parts
stubborn streak
a persistent tendency to resist changing one's mind or behavior
subatomic particle
a particle smaller than an atom, including particles that make up atoms
subconscious mind
mental activity that occurs below a person's immediate conscious awareness
subcutaneous injection
an injection delivered beneath the skin
subjunctive mood
a grammatical mood expressing possibilities, wishes, or situations not stated as ordinary facts
submarine earthquake
an earthquake occurring beneath the sea
subordinate conjunction
a conjunction that introduces a dependent clause
suburban area
a residential district around the outer part of a city
subversive activity
action intended to undermine or overthrow an established government or authority
sufficient condition
a condition that guarantees a particular result if it is met
sulphuric acid
a strongly corrosive acid containing sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen, widely used in industry
summary judgment
a court decision made without trial when no material factual dispute requires one
super heavyweight
the heaviest weight division in some combat sports
superfine sugar
sugar with very small fine crystals
superior court
a court with authority above that of a lower court
superlative degree
the adjective or adverb form expressing the highest or lowest degree in a comparison
supernatural virtue
one of the virtues regarded in Christian ethics as given by God
superstitious notion
a belief based on superstition rather than reliable evidence
sure thing
an outcome or opportunity considered certain to succeed
surgical incision
a cut made in body tissue during an operation
swedish turnip
the yellow edible root vegetable also called a swede or rutabaga
Noun + noun(50)
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startle response
an automatic bodily reaction to a sudden unexpected stimulus
state capitalism
a capitalist economic system in which the government owns or controls some production
state senator
a member of a state's senate
state treasurer
the official responsible for a state government's treasury
statute law
law formally enacted by a legislative body
steam locomotive
a railway locomotive driven by a steam engine
steamship company
a business operating a fleet of steam-powered ships
stereo system
sound equipment that reproduces separate audio channels through multiple speakers
sternocleidomastoid muscle
a large neck muscle that helps turn and bend the head
steroid hormone
a hormone belonging to the chemical class of steroids
stiletto heel
a very narrow, high heel on a shoe
stimulus generalization
responding to a new stimulus because it resembles one previously associated with that response
stink bomb
a small device designed to release a very unpleasant smell
stirrup cup
a farewell drink offered to someone about to depart on horseback
stock footage
previously recorded film material kept for reuse in later productions
stomach ache
pain in the stomach or abdominal area
storage warehouse
a large building used to keep goods before use or distribution
storm cellar
an underground shelter used for protection during severe storms
storm sewer
a drainage system that carries away rainwater and other excess surface water
straw mushroom
an edible mushroom commonly cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions
streamer fly
an artificial fishing fly with wings extending beyond the hook's bend
street credibility
respect earned by appearing authentic and familiar with urban youth culture
stretch limousine
a limousine lengthened to provide extra passenger space
string quintet
a musical ensemble consisting of five string players
stud farm
a breeding establishment that produces and raises horses
stunt man
a male performer who carries out dangerous actions for film or television scenes
subscriber line
a telephone connection serving an individual customer
subsistence level
a standard of living that barely provides the essentials for survival
subway fare
the amount charged for traveling on a subway
sucker punch
a punch delivered unexpectedly to someone who is unprepared
suction cup
a flexible cup-shaped device that sticks to a surface by reduced air pressure
suet pudding
a sweet or savory steamed or boiled pudding made with suet
suffix notation
a way of writing expressions with each operator after the values it acts on
sulfur bacteria
bacteria associated with the transformation of sulfur compounds
summit meeting
a meeting between national leaders to discuss important issues
sun visor
a movable shade that blocks sunlight near a vehicle's windshield
sunday school
religious instruction, usually for children, held on Sunday
sunflower oil
oil extracted from sunflower seeds
sunset provision
a rule that makes a law or program expire at a specified time
superposition principle
the geological principle that lower sedimentary layers are older than those above them in an undisturbed sequence
supper club
a small entertainment venue where guests dine and enjoy evening performances
surf music
popular music associated with surfing culture, especially its Southern Californian tradition
surface tension
the effect of molecular attraction that makes a liquid's surface resist being stretched
surge suppressor
an electrical device that protects equipment against sudden power surges
survivor guilt
guilt felt after surviving an event in which others died
survivorship annuity
an annuity that pays a surviving beneficiary after another beneficiary dies
suspense account
a temporary account holding transactions until their proper classification is determined
suspension bridge
a bridge whose roadway hangs from cables secured at its ends
swagger stick
a short stick traditionally carried by a military officer
swap file
a file used as disk-based storage for virtual memory
Verb + adverb(8)
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start afresh
to begin again with a new attempt
steer clear
to keep away from someone or something likely to cause trouble
stirred up
caused strong feelings or reactions to arise
stow away
to hide aboard a vehicle in order to travel without permission or payment
straighten out
to resolve a problem or remove confusion
stretch out
to extend the body or limbs, or lie with them extended
suck up
to draw liquid or another substance inward by suction
swell up
to become abnormally larger or puffy