combine

UK: verb: /kəmˈbaɪn/, noun: /ˈkɒmbaɪn/

US: /v. kəmˈbaɪn; n. ˈkɑmbaɪn/

US: (v. kəm bīn′ for 1, 2, 6, kom′bīn for 3, 7; n. kom′bīn, kəm bīn′ for 8, 9, kom′bīn for 10)

Inflections of 'combine' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

combines

v 3rd person singular

combining

v pres p

combined

v past

combined

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•bine /v. kəmˈbaɪn; n. ˈkɑmbaɪn/   v., -bined, -bin•ing, n. 
v. 

1. to join in a close union;
   unite to form one thing: [~ + object]
   combined flour, sugar, eggs, and water to make a cake.
   [no object]
   The dirt and water combined to form mud.
2. to have or show (qualities, etc.) in union: [~ + object]
   His bold new plan combines practicality and originality.
   [~ + object + with + object]
   combines practicality with originality.
3. to unite for a common purpose;
   join: [~ + object]
   Two factions combined efforts.
   [no object]
   Two factions combined to defeat the proposal.

n. [countable]

4. a combination, esp. a combination of persons or groups acting together for some goal, as a syndicate, cartel, or bloc.
5. Agriculture a harvesting machine for cutting and threshing grain in the field.

com•bin•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•bine  (v. kəm bīn′ for 1, 2, 6, kom′bīn for 3, 7; n. kom′bīn, kəm bīn′ for 8, 9, kom′bīn for 10), v., -bined, -bin•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to bring into or join in a close union or whole;
   unite:
   She combined the ingredients to make the cake. They combined the two companies.
2. to possess or exhibit in union:
   a plan that combines the best features of several other plans.
3. Agriculture to harvest (grain) with a combine.

v.i. 

4. to unite;
   coalesce:
   The clay combined with the water to form a thick paste.
5. to unite for a common purpose;
   join forces:
   After the two factions combined, they proved invincible.
6. Chemistry to enter into chemical union.
7. Agriculture to use a combine in harvesting.

n. 

8. a combination.
9. a combination of persons or groups for the furtherance of their political, commercial, or other interests, as a syndicate, cartel, or trust.
10. Agriculture a harvesting machine for cutting and threshing grain in the field.

• Late Latin combīnāre, equivalent. to com- com- + -bīnāre, verb, verbal derivative of bīnī by twos (compare binary)
• Middle French combiner)
• late Middle English combinen (1375–1425

com•bin′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. compound, amalgamate. See mix. 
• 9. merger, monopoly, alignment, bloc.

Antonyms

• 1, 4. separate.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

combine verb / kəmˈbaɪn/

1. to integrate or cause to be integrated; join together
2. to unite or cause to unite to form a chemical compound

noun / ˈkɒmbaɪn/

1. short for combine harvester
2. an association of enterprises, esp in order to gain a monopoly of a market
3. an association of business corporations, political parties, sporting clubs, etc, for a common purpose

Etymology: 15th Century: from Late Latin combīnāre, from Latin com- together + bīnī two by two

comˈbinable adjective

comˌbinaˈbility noun