- pattern
- noun1 arrangement of lines, shapes, sounds, etc.ADJECTIVE▪ intricate▪ abstract, geometric▪ camouflage, floral, striped, etc.▪ regular, repeated, repeating▪
wallpaper with a repeating pattern of interlocking shapes
▪ random▪ drum, rhythmic, sound▪The music contains repeated rhythmic patterns.
VERB + PATTERN▪ have▪The sweater has a geometric pattern on it.
▪ form, produce▪The roof beams form a star-like pattern.
▪ create, design, make, print, weavePREPOSITION▪ in a/the pattern▪He had arranged the glasses in a pattern on the table.
▪ pattern on▪the pattern on the carpet
▪ pattern in▪She drew patterns in the sand.
2 usual mannerADJECTIVE▪ basic, existing, familiar, normal, set, traditional, usual▪There is no set pattern for these meetings.
▪ consistent, predictable, regular▪ same, similar▪Portuguese colonial rule followed a similar pattern to that of other powers.
▪ changing, ever-changing▪ complex▪ clear▪The pattern is clear: obesity is associated with lower incomes.
▪ main▪ overall▪The overall pattern of our life changes little.
▪ behaviour/behavior, behavioural/behavioral▪ speech▪Her speech patterns are very distinctive.
▪ breathing, sleep▪ voting▪ consumption, spending, usage▪They analyzed employees' email usage patterns.
▪ migration, settlement▪ employment▪ weatherVERB + PATTERN▪ discern, identify, notice, recognize, trace▪We can trace a familiar pattern to these events.
▪ establish, set▪ follow, repeat▪Their actions follow a very predictable pattern.
▪ fall into, fit into▪ideas that do not fit neatly into his patterns of thought
▪ exhibit, show▪67% of patients showed a similar pattern of improvement.
▪ alter, change▪People have changed their spending patterns in response to changing conditions.
PATTERN + VERB▪ develop, emerge▪Similar patterns are emerging all over Eastern Europe.
▪ changePREPOSITION▪ pattern for▪the normal pattern for a boy/girl relationship
▪ pattern in▪the main patterns in English spelling
▪ pattern of▪patterns of behaviour/behavior
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
