noun
- A combination of words that frequently appear together in a language, forming a meaningful unit.
Usage: Linguistics and language learning term; Plural form of collocation
Examples
- In English, 'strong coffee' and 'heavy rain' are common collocations.
- Learning collocations helps students speak more naturally and fluently.
- The phrase 'make a decision' is a collocation; we don't usually say 'do a decision.'
- Dictionaries often list collocations to show how words are typically used together.
- Native speakers use collocations automatically without thinking about them.
- Understanding collocations is essential for advanced language learners.