ENGLISH
REFERENCE

join

v. · n.
US //ˈdʒɔɪn// UK //dʒˈɔɪn// join
  1. 1 to connect things (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to connect or fasten two or more things together.

    to physically or notionally connect two or more separate entities into a single unit.

    Example

    You can use glue to join the two pieces of wood together.

    Example

    The new bridge will join the isolated island to the mainland, significantly reducing travel times for the local residents.

  2. 2 to become a member (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to become a member of a group, club, or organization.

    to become a member of an organized body or association.

    Example

    I decided to join the local gym to get more exercise.

    Example

    After graduating, she joined a prestigious law firm in the city to begin her professional career.

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  1. 3 to go with someone (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to go to a place to be with someone who is already there.

    to come into the company of others who are already engaged in an activity.

    Example

    Would you like to join us for dinner tonight?

    Example

    The CEO will join the meeting later this afternoon once her previous engagement concludes.

  2. 4 to meet at a point (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to meet or come together at a specific place.

    to meet or converge at a specific point or along a boundary.

    Example

    This is the point where the two rivers join and become one.

    Example

    The hiking trail continues for three miles until it joins the main road near the park entrance.

  3. 5 database tables (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    to combine information from two different lists in a computer database.

    to produce an intersection of data from two or more database tables based on a related column.

    Example

    You need to join the customer table with the orders table to see the names.

    Example

    The developer performed an inner join to retrieve only the records that had matching values in both datasets.

  4. 6 a connection point (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a place where two things are fixed together.

    a place or line where two or more things are connected.

    Example

    You can hardly see the join where the two pieces of wallpaper meet.

    Example

    The carpenter sanded the wood until the join between the table leg and the top was completely smooth to the touch.

Origin

From Middle English joinen, joynen, joignen, from Old French joindre, juindre, jungre, from Latin iungō (“join, yoke”, verb), from Proto-Indo-European *yewg- (“to join, unite”). Cognate with Old English iucian, iugian, ġeocian, ġyċċan (“to join; yoke”). More at yoke.

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