See Also: Combination(medicine)
COMBINATION(law)
Combination(finance)
new combination(medicine)
combination(dictionary)
combination(dictionary)
Combination(money)
Combination annuity(money)
combination studies(medicine)
Combination bond(money)

antibiotic (oh) and combination (iou)


antibiotic (oh)



[Date: 1800-1900; Origin: anti- + biotic 'of life' (19-21 centuries) (from Latin bioticus, from Greek, from bios 'life')]
a drug that is used to kill bacteria and cure infections

combination (iou)



combination noun. LME.
[Old French (mod. combinaison) or Latin combinatio(n-), from combinat- pa. ppl stem of combinare: see COMBINE verb1, -ATION.]
The action of combining two or more things; combined state. LME.
E. O'Neill Consider these two inventions of mine in combination. C. Francis Bad visibility and a sudden squall are a dangerous combination.
b. A combined set or series of things; a compound thing, esp. a compound word or taxonomic name. M16.
The association of people for a common (formerly usu. illegal) purpose; an association of people so formed. LME.
b. Agreement, compact. rare (Shakes.). Only in E17.
c. A small instrumental band. Cf. COMBO. E20.
a. Math. A selection of a given number of elements from a larger number of elements, without regard to the order of the elements chosen. Cf. PERMUTATION. L17.
b. A particular sequence of letters or numbers chosen in setting a combination lock (see below); the lock itself. M19.
c. Chess. A sequence of forcing moves with a specific goal. L19.
Chemistry. The union of substances to form a compound (whose properties differ from those of the original substances); the state of being united in a compound; a compound so formed. M18.
In pl. A single undergarment for the body and legs (= combination garment below). L19.
A motorcycle with side-car attached. E20.
Comb.: combination garment = sense 5 above; combination laws laws (repealed in 1824) directed against workpeople combining to obtain an increase in wages etc.; combination lock a lock (as of a safe or strongroom) controlled by a dial or dials, in which letters or numbers have to be arranged in a particular sequence to release the lock; combination room at Cambridge University, a common-room, esp. a senior common-room (senior combination room: see SENIOR adjective); combination therapy the treatment of a disease, esp. cancer or AIDS, by giving the patient two or more drugs (or Other therapeutic agents) simultaneously; combination tone a note produced by the combined sounding of two Other notes, a resultant tone.
combinational adjective L17.