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 5089–5184 of 7378 phrases
Verb + noun(1)
Adjective + noun(42)
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unfavorable position
a situation that puts someone at a disadvantage
unilateral paralysis
loss of movement affecting one side of the body
universal solvent
an imaginary substance sought by alchemists that could dissolve every material
universal suffrage
the principle that all adults should have the right to vote
unmarried woman
an adult female who is not currently married
upper balcony
the higher or rearmost balcony seating area in a theater
upset stomach
digestive discomfort that may include nausea or indigestion
urban legend
a widely circulated story often presented as true despite being false or unverified
urban sprawl
the spread of connected urban development over a wide area
vacant lot
a plot of land without permanent buildings on it
valvular incompetence
a condition in which a valve in the body cannot close fully
vascular strand
a bundle of plant tissues that transports water and nutrients
vast majority
a proportion that is much larger than half of a group
vegetative cell
a body cell that does not function as a reproductive cell
venereal disease
an illness passed from one person to another through sexual contact
venial sin
in Catholic teaching, a less serious wrongdoing that does not completely separate a person from God's grace
ventral aspect
the view or surface of the side of a body that faces the belly
verbal description
an account of something expressed in words
vernal equinox
the spring event when the sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north
vertebrate paleontology
the study of animals with backbones through their fossil remains
vertical integration
business ownership or control of several successive stages of producing and selling a product
vestal virgin
a priestess of Vesta in ancient Rome who maintained the goddess's sacred fire and remained unmarried and chaste
veteran soldier
a soldier with extensive experience of military service
veterinary surgeon
a professionally qualified doctor who treats animals
vice chairman
a man who acts as deputy to the person leading a committee or organization
vicious cycle
a repeating sequence in which problems make one another worse
virtual storage
computer storage that uses disk space to extend the memory available to programs
visible light
electromagnetic radiation that human eyes can detect
visual aids
pictures, diagrams, or other things people can look at to help them understand information
visual perception
the process of receiving and interpreting information through sight
vital statistics
official population figures covering events such as births, deaths, and marriages
vitreous chamber
the space behind the lens of the eye that contains transparent gel
vocal music
music written to be sung, with or without instrumental accompaniment
vocational rehabilitation
training and support that help a person develop or recover skills needed for employment
voiceless consonant
a consonant produced without vibration of the vocal cords
volcanic eruption
the release of lava, ash, or gases from a volcano
voluntary manslaughter
an intentional unlawful killing classified as a less serious offense than murder
weak interaction
the fundamental physical interaction involved in processes such as certain forms of radioactive decay
wealthy man
a man who owns a large amount of money or valuable property
west coast
the shore along the western side of a country or island
western civilization
the historical societies and cultural traditions associated with Europe and countries influenced by it
western culture
customs, ideas, and artistic traditions associated with Europe and North America
Noun + noun(46)
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unemployment compensation
payments provided to eligible people who have lost their jobs
upholstery material
fabric used to cover padded furniture
uranium ore
rock or mineral material from which uranium can be obtained
uranyl nitrate
a yellow nitrate salt containing the uranyl ion
urge incontinence
involuntary urine leakage associated with a sudden strong need to urinate
user interface
the controls and displays through which a person interacts with a computer system
vacancy rate
the proportion of available rental units that are currently unoccupied
vacuum aspiration
a method of ending a pregnancy by removing uterine contents with suction
valet parking
a service in which an attendant parks and returns a customer's car
value judgement
an assessment based on beliefs about what is good, important, or desirable
vampire bat
a tropical American bat that feeds on the blood of other animals
vanadium steel
steel containing vanadium to improve strength and stability at high temperatures
variety show
an entertainment program combining different short acts, such as music and comedy
ventilation shaft
a vertical passage that allows air to move through a building
victory celebration
an event or activity held to express joy after winning
vigil light
a candle lit in a church as an act of devotion
vigilance committee
a group of residents organized to enforce order where official law enforcement is absent or ineffective
violin lesson
a session in which someone is taught to play the violin
vitamin pill
a tablet containing vitamins intended to supplement food intake
volleyball court
the marked playing area used for volleyball
voltage divider
a circuit arrangement that produces an output voltage smaller than its input voltage
voltage regulator
a transformer whose adjustable ratio allows its output voltage to be controlled
volunteer work
unpaid activity done willingly to help other people or a community
vortex vein
one of the veins that drain blood from the vascular layer at the back of the eye
voter turnout
the number or proportion of eligible people who take part in an election
voting precinct
a local election district whose voters use an assigned polling place
vowel shift
a systematic change in how one or more vowel sounds are pronounced
wage hike
an increase in the amount paid to workers
walrus mustache
a thick mustache that hangs down over the upper lip
war correspondent
a journalist who reports from a place where fighting is taking place
war effort
the combined activities and resources used to support a country during a war
warble fly
a fly whose larvae cause swellings beneath the skin of cattle
washing line
a cord or wire on which wet clothes are hung to dry
wasp waist
an exceptionally narrow waist compared with the chest and hips
water cooler
a machine that chills drinking water and lets people pour it into a cup
water nymph
a female nature spirit associated with a river, lake, or other body of water
water skiing
the sport of traveling over water on skis while being pulled by a boat
water sprite
a small supernatural being believed in stories to live in water
water supply
the source and system that provide water for people to use
water vapor
water in its gaseous form
wax crayon
a colored drawing stick made mainly from wax
web browser
a computer program used to open and view pages on the internet
wedding anniversary
the yearly return of the date on which a couple married
wedding ceremony
the formal event in which two people get married
weight loss
a decrease in a person's or animal's body weight
welcome mat
a small mat outside a door on which people wipe their shoes before entering