combining

Combining is the act of bringing two or more elements into a single, more complex whole by joining, mixing, or integrating them. The term derives from the Latin combinare, meaning to join together. The notion is widely applicable across disciplines, and the specific method depends on the nature of the elements and the desired outcome.

In mathematics and data processing, combining describes constructing new objects from existing ones. Operations such as addition, concatenation, union, and product are typical examples. For instance, 3 and 5 combine to produce 8, two strings can be concatenated to form "ab," and sets A and B can be merged to A ∪ B. In mathematics, the study of selecting items is called combinatorics, while combining as a process is a broader concept.

In science and everyday life, combining is seen in chemical synthesis, where elements bond to form compounds, in materials science where substances are blended, and in information gathering when datasets, models, or ideas are merged. The effectiveness of combining depends on compatibility, timing, and context, and it can introduce new properties or insights while risking the loss of original components. Related terms include merge, fuse, blend, synthesis, and integration.