Com`bi*na"tion (?), n. [LL.
combinatio. See Combine.] 1.
The act or process of combining or uniting persons and
things.
Making new compounds by new
combinations.
Boyle.
A solemn combination shall be made
Of our dear souls.
Shak.
2. The result of combining or uniting;
union of persons or things; esp. a union or alliance of persons
or states to effect some purpose; -- usually in a bad
sense.
A combination of the most powerful men in
Rome who had conspired my ruin.
Melmoth.
3. (Chem.) The act or process of
uniting by chemical affinity, by which substances unite with each
other in definite proportions by weight to form distinct
compounds.
4. pl. (Math.) The
different arrangements of a number of objects, as letters, into
groups.
☞ In combinations no regard is paid to the order
in which the objects are arranged in each group, while in
variations and permutations this order is
respected. Brande & C.
Combination car, a railroad car
containing two or more compartments used for different
purposes. [U. S.] -- Combination lock,
a lock in which the mechanism is controlled by means of a
movable dial (sometimes by several dials or rings) inscribed with
letters or other characters. The bolt of the lock can not be
operated until after the dial has been so turned as to combine
the characters in a certain order or succession. --
Combination room, in the University of
Cambridge, Eng., a room into which the fellows withdraw after
dinner, for wine, dessert, and conversation. --
Combination by volume (Chem.), the
act, process, or ratio by which gaseous elements and compounds
unite in definite proportions by volume to form distinct
compounds. -- Combination by weight
(Chem.), the act, process, or ratio, in which
substances unite in proportions by weight, relatively fixed and
exact, to form distinct compounds. See Law of definite
proportions, under Definite.
Syn. -- Cabal; alliance; association; league; union;
confederacy; coalition; conspiracy. See Cabal.