combine

To put two or more things together, or do two activities together.

• Combine the eggs and milk.
• The two teams combined their resources.
• Can you combine studying with a part-time job?

How to use it: combine A with B (Combine the flour with the butter.); combine A and B (We combined our savings and bought a car.)

Similar words: join, mix, merge

Opposites: separate

Common phrases: combine ingredients, combine forces, combine work and pleasure

To have two or more different qualities or features together.

• The bag combines style and strength.
• Her cooking combines old traditions with fresh ideas.
• These shoes combine comfort and elegance.

How to use it: combine A with B (The design combines beauty with practical features.); combine A and B (This chair combines comfort and style.)

Similar words: unite, blend

Common phrases: combine beauty and strength, combine style and comfort

A large farm machine that cuts grain crops and separates the seeds from the plants.

• The farmer drove the combine across the field.
• Two combines harvested the wheat.
• Our combine broke down during the harvest.

Similar words: combine harvester

Common phrases: combine harvester, drive a combine, combine in something

A group of businesses working together to serve their shared interests.

• The firms formed a combine.
• The combine controlled most of the local trade.
• Officials investigated an illegal combine that fixed prices.

Similar words: consortium, cartel

Common phrases: industrial combine, form a combine, business combine

A group of factories run together as one organization in a socialist country.

• She worked at a steel combine.
• The state combine included five factories.
• Several industrial combines supplied machinery to the region.

Similar words: industrial complex

Common phrases: steel combine, industrial combine, state combine