collocation

 
Pronunciation: /kɒləˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1 Linguistics the habitual juxtaposition of a particular word with another word or words with a frequency greater than chance: the words have a similar range of collocation
  • [count noun] a pair or group of words that are habitually juxtaposed: ‘strong tea’ and ‘heavy drinker’ are typical English collocations
  • 2the action of placing things side by side or in position: the collocation of the two pieces

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin collocatio(n-), from collocare 'place together' (see collocate)