connection
noun/kəˈnɛkʃ(ə)n/
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Latin nectō Latin cōnectō Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin cōnexiōder. Latin connexionemder. Middle English connexiounder. English connection From Middle English conneccioun, connexioun, conneccyon, conneccion, from Latin connexionem (nominative connexio (“a conclusion, binding together”)), from connectō, an alternative spelling of cōnectō (“to bind together”), from compound of co- (“together”) and nectō (“to bind”). In American English mid-18c., spelling shifted from connexion to connection (equivalent to connect + -ion), thus making connexion British dated and connection in international use.
16 senses
- 1The act of connecting.
- 2Coherence; lack of disjointedness.
- 3Sexual intercourse.
- 4The point at which two or more things are connected.
- 5A transfer from one transportation vehicle to another in…
- 6A physical link between two things or places.
- 7An established communications or transportation link.
- 8A causal relationship between two phenomena; cause and effect.
- 9A relationship between people or groups of people.
- 10A feeling of mutual understanding and ease of…
- 11A contextual relationship; the commonality between two…
- 12A person or persons related to oneself, through either…
- 13An acquaintance who is useful in a particular scenario…
- 14A drug dealer.
- 15A set of sets that contains the empty set, all…
- 16Alternative spelling of connexion; a Methodist…
The act of connecting.
- Forster employs personal relations to emphasize the importance of connection and mutual understanding2005 October 2, Mieke Schüller, Howards End by E. M. Forster: "Only Connect!", GRIN Verlag, →ISBN, page 2:
- At the town of Mendes, in the principal temple, there was a living male goat, with which, if the statement of Herodotus is to be accepted, naked female worshippers actually had carnal intercourse. Male worshippers similarly had connexion with she-goats.1941, George Ryley Scott, Phallic Worship: A History of Sex and Sex Rites in Relation to the Religions of All Races from Antiquity to the Present Day, London: T. Werner Laurie, page 29:
Coherence; lack of disjointedness.
Euphemistic Sexual intercourse.
- The exact nature of the relations between the boy-wife and his protector are doubtful; they certainly have connection, but the natives repudiate with horror and disgust the idea of sodomy.1927, Havelock Ellis, Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 2 (of 6):
The point at which two or more things are connected.
- the leak formed at the connection of the pipe and the boiler
Transport A transfer from one transportation vehicle to another in scheduled transportation service.
- The bus was late so he missed his connection at Penn Station and had to wait six hours for the next train.
- It is kept super-clean by helpful staff who still find the time to help customers with tight connections.2022 January 12, Paul Bigland, “Fab Four: the nation's finest stations: Eastbourne”, in RAIL, number 948, page 26:
A physical link between two things or places.
- the isthmus of Panama is the connection between North and South America
An established communications or transportation link.
- computers linked by a network connection
- I was talking to him, but there was lightning and we lost the connection.
› A relationship or association.
A causal relationship between two phenomena; cause and effect.
- the connection between overeating and obesity
- My headache has no connection with me going out last night.
A relationship between people or groups of people.
- These two seemed to have a closer relationship than I knew. What's their connection?2020 June 30, Tikiri Herath, The Girl Who Knew Their Names: A vigilante crime suspense novel, REBEL DIVA PRESS, →ISBN:
A feeling of mutual understanding and ease of communication between two or more people.
- As we were the only people in the room to laugh at the joke, I felt a connection between us.
A contextual relationship; the commonality between two or more things.
- in this connection
- A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "We can confirm that a 15-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Jodi Jones. A 45-year-old has also been arrested in connection with allegations of attempting to pervert the course of justice. A report on this has been sent to the procurator fiscal."2004 April 15, “Morning swoop in hunt for Jodi's killer”, in The Scotsman:
1 more example
- The first two rounds, in which players try to identify the connection between a group of four clues and then to name the next clue in a cryptic sequence, are often so obscure, the connections so convoluted or tangential, that nobody lands on an answer.2025 February 17, Emily Bootle, “I hate Only Connect – but I can’t stop watching it”, in The i Paper:
A person or persons related to oneself, through either family or business.
- I have some connections in Lancashire.
- I hadn't much chance of buying a practice or dropping into a partnership worth having and I jibbed at setting up in some God-forsaken backwater and slipping into middle age 'building up a connection.'1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
Plural normally An acquaintance who is useful in a particular scenario, especially in a corrupt or criminal way.
- I have connections in the local committee. I shall bring them to bear, as long as the Council does not find fault!1934, A. I. Voinova, Semi-precious Stones:
- General Zhigailo also used his connections to have an officer at the academy expelled from the party because he had criticized the general's behavior.2005, Roger R. Reese, Red Commanders: A Social History of the Soviet Army Officer Corps, 1918-1991, page 223:
1 more example
- "I don't think Merv had ever been in the Mob," she added, but "he had connections." She recalled one of his connections.2015 September 19, Linda J. Alexander, A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story, BearManor Media:
Slang A drug dealer.
- Now the final study was the drug habit. He was now in New Orleans, slipping along the streets with shady characters and haunting connection bars.1957 September 5, Jack Kerouac, On the Road, New York, N.Y.: Viking Press, →OCLC:
Mathematics, Sciences A set of sets that contains the empty set, all one-element sets for any element that is included in any of the sets, and the union of any group of sets that are elements where the intersections of those sets is non-empty.
Lifestyle, Religion Alternative Alternative spelling of connexion; a Methodist denomination as a whole, as opposed to its constituent churches, circuits, districts and conferences.
- Synonyms
- bond, connection, connective, connexive, link, vinculum
- Derived terms
30 terms
autoconnection, connectional, connectionism, connectionist, connectionless, connectionlessness, disconnection, hyperconnection, interconnection, intraconnection, misconnection, multiconnection, nonconnection, paleoconnection, reconnection, superconnection, teleconnection, unconnection, back-to-back connection, clamp connection, connection string, delta connection, dot connection, French Connection, Galois connection, in this connection, loose connection, mind-muscle connection, missed connection, Scott connection- Related terms
- connect, connective, connectivity, connectogram, relation
- Hyponyms
45 terms
articulation, hinge, junction, juncture, join, pivot, bolt, clamp, clasp, clip, fastener, hasp, pin, screw, staple, tie, nail, nut, washer, coupling, dragbar, draglink, drawbar, drawlink, bridge, stepping-stone, ligament, tendon, cable, chain, cord, cordage, fiber, guy, hawser, line, riband, ribbon, rigging, rope, strap, string, twine, wire, wire rope