combine
verb (used with object), com·bined, com·bin·ing.
verb (used without object), com·bined, com·bin·ing.
noun
Origin of combine
SYNONYMS FOR combine
OTHER WORDS FROM combine
Words nearby combine
VOCAB BUILDER
What does combine mean?
To combine means to join two or more things together into a single unit.
When things are combined, they form combinations. Less commonly, combine can also be used as a noun to refer to several different things, especially a grain harvester and an event at which athletes showcase their skills.
Example: At the draft combine, scouts are looking for a player who combines strength, agility, and intelligence in a single package.
Where does combine come from?
The first records of the word combine come from around the 1400s. It is derived from the Late Latin combīnāre, which is formed from com-, meaning “together,” and bīnī, meaning “two by two.”
Combining often involves joining two things, but it can be more than two. When you combine multiple things, the idea is to form a single thing. Chefs combine ingredients to create a dish. Elements combine to form molecules. Writers combine words to form sentences, and combine sentences to form paragraphs, and combine paragraphs to hit their word count. People can combine efforts to achieve a goal, or combine their powers to summon Captain Planet, or combine vehicles to form Voltron, or combine pop culture references to hit their word count.
Less commonly, combine can be used as a noun, in which case it is pronounced “COM-bine.” In the context of farming, a combine is a machine used to harvest grain. (It can also be used as a verb in this context, meaning “to harvest grain with a combine machine.” It is pronounced the same way as the noun.) As a noun, combine can also be used to refer to a combination or group, such as an association or organizations, though this use is uncommon. In sports, a combine is an event in which new players can showcase their talents for teams. It is especially used in the phrases draft combine and scouting combine.
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What are some other forms related to combine?
- combination (noun)
- combinable (adjective)
- combinability (noun)
- combiner (noun)
- intercombine (noun)
- noncombining (adjective)
- precombine (verb)
What are some synonyms for combine?
What are some words that share a root or word element with combine?
What are some words that often get used in discussing combine?
How is combine used in real life?
Combine can be used in countless contexts. Both abstract and tangible things can be combined.
Genetics, environmental influences, parenting styles, friends, teachers, schools, and the culture at large are just some of the major factors that combine in unique ways to determine how a child develops and the person they will one day become.
— Bhagyashree भाग्यश्री (@me_Bhagyashree) March 10, 2020
Had my first taste of Durian and it tastes like off cream cheese combined with bad pineapple
— Hysterics (@HystericsCasts) August 30, 2019
Final: Delaware/Otsego defeats Broome/Chenango 104-93 in OT in the MAC Boys Senior game. The 2 teams combine for 41 three’s. Insane! D/O sets a new senior game record with 26 three’s in the contest #WCDO
— Nate Lull (@NateLull) March 10, 2020
Try using combine!
Which of the following words could be considered an antonym (opposite) of combine?
A. together
B. bond
C. fuse
D. separate