recombine
UK[ˌriːkəmˈbaɪn]US[ˌriːkəmˈbaɪn]
v
to combine things or parts again, especially in a different way.
v
(in genetics) to form new combinations of genetic material, such as genes or dna sequences.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
combine
re
again
combine
join together
Etymology
the word recombine is a modern english formation built upon the established verb "combine." the prefix "re-," of latin origin, is one of the most productive in english, directly attached to verbs to indicate repetition or a return to a previous state. the core "combine" entered english from latin via french, carrying the sense of joining two or more elements into one. therefore, recombine logically means to perform this act of joining together once more, often with an implication of rearrangement. this transparent morphological structure makes its meaning immediately accessible, reflecting a common pattern in scientific and general vocabulary to denote processes that are repeated or revised.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + combine (join together)
re- is a latin-origin prefix meaning "again" or "back". combine is from latin combinare, from com- (together) + bini (two by two), meaning to join or unite.
Examples
the software allows you to recombine the audio tracks to create a new mix.
scientists study how viral genes recombine to form new strains.
the artist would often deconstruct and recombine elements from classical paintings.