a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities
2.
a coordinated sequence of chess moves
3.
a sequence of numbers or letters that opens a combination lock; "he forgot the combination to the safe"
4.
a group of people (often temporary) having a common purpose; "they were a winning combination"
5.
an alliance of people or corporations or countries for a special purpose (formerly to achieve some antisocial end but now for general political or economic purposes)
6.
the act of arranging elements into specified groups without regard to order
(the result of) combining or being combined Example: The town was a combination of old and new architecture.
Arabic:
مَزيج، خَليط، دَمْج
Chinese (Simplified):
结合
Chinese (Traditional):
結合
Czech:
kombinace, spojení
Danish:
kombination
Dutch:
combinatie
Estonian:
kombinatsioon, segu
Finnish:
yhdistelmä
French:
combinaison
German:
die Kombination
Greek:
συνδυασμός
Hungarian:
egyesítés
Icelandic:
samsetning
Indonesian:
perpaduan
Italian:
combinazione
Japanese:
結合
Korean:
결합, 연합
Latvian:
kombinācija; maisījums
Lithuanian:
derinys
Norwegian:
kombinasjon, sammensetning, forbindelse
Polish:
połączenie
Portuguese (Brazil):
combinação
Portuguese (Portugal):
combinação
Romanian:
combinaţie
Russian:
сочетание
Slovak:
zostava, spojenie
Slovenian:
splet
Spanish:
combinación
Swedish:
kombination, förening
Turkish:
birleş(tir)me, birleşim
ˌcombiˈnation2[-bi-]noun
a set of numbers used to open certain types of lock Example: He couldn't open the safe as he had forgotten the combination; (also adjective) a combination lock
combination 1. A set containing a certain number of objects selected from another set. The number of combinations of r objects chosen from a set of n is n C r = n! / ((n-r)! r!) where "n C r" is normally with n and r as subscripts or as n above r in parentheses. See also permutation. 2. In the theory of combinators, a combination denotes an expression in which function application is the only operation. (1995-04-10)
Ca*bal"\ (k[.a]*b[a^]l"), n. [F. cabale cabal, cabala, LL. cabala cabala, fr. Heb. qabb[=a]l[=e]h reception, tradition, mysterious doctrine, fr. q[=a]bal to take or receive, in Pi["e]l qibbel to adopt (a doctrine).]1. Tradition; occult doctrine. See Cabala [Obs.] --Hakewill. 2. A secret. [Obs.] "The measuring of the temple, a cabal found out but lately." --B. Jonson. 3. A number of persons united in some close design, usually to promote their private views and interests in church or state by intrigue; a secret association composed of a few designing persons; a junto. Note: It so happend, by a whimsical coincidence, that in 1671 the cabinet consisted of five persons, the initial letters of whose names made up the word cabal; Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale. --Macaulay. 4. The secret artifices or machinations of a few persons united in a close design; intrigue. By cursed cabals of women. --Dryden. Syn: Junto; intrigue; plot; combination; conspiracy. Usage: Cabal, Combination, Faction. An association for some purpose considered to be bad is the idea common to these terms. A combination is an organized union of individuals for mutual support, in urging their demands or resisting the claims of others, and may be good or bad according to circumstances; as, a combiniation of workmen or of employers to effect or to prevent a change in prices. A cabal is a secret association of a few individuals who seek by cunning practices to obtain office and power. A faction is a larger body than a cabal, employed for selfish purposes in agitating the community and working up an excitement with a view to change the existing order of things. "Selfishness, insubordination, and laxity of morals give rise to combinations, which belong particularly to the lower orders of society. Restless, jealous, ambitious, and little minds are ever forming cabals. Factions belong especially to free governments, and are raised by busy and turbulent spirits for selfish purposes". --Crabb.