combinations

noun

1. Two or more things or people joined, mixed, or used together; arrangements of different parts.

   B1

   countable; plural of combination

   • "The recipe uses unusual combinations of spices."B1
   • "Scientists tested various combinations of chemicals to find the right reaction."B2
   • "The team tried several combinations of players before choosing its final lineup."B2

2. Sequences of numbers or letters used to open a lock or access something.

   B1

   countable; usually plural

   • "I forgot the combination to my locker."B1
   • "He forgot the combinations to all the safes."B2

3. In mathematics, selections of items from a larger set where the order does not matter.

   C1

   countable; usually pluraltechnical

   • "There are ten possible combinations of three items from a set of five."C1
   • "The students calculated how many combinations of three cards could be drawn from the deck."C1