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Collocations for system - noun

1. set of ideas/rules for organizing sth

ADJ.

current, existing
looking to replace the existing system
modern | old-fashioned, outdated | traditional | standard | complex, complicated, elaborate, intricate, sophisticated | simple | comprehensive | coherent | effective, efficient | viable, workable | inefficient, wasteful | flexible | rigid | stable | foolproof | imperfect, perfect | unique | ad hoc | centralized, decentralized | closed, open
a closed system with a rigidly defined set of choices
bureaucratic | hierarchical | authoritarian, oppressive, repressive | equitable, fair | corrupt, unjust | bankrupt
The governor referred to a prison system that was bankrupt of compassion.
state
The law applies to schools within the state system.
local government, parliamentary, political | electoral, voting | banking, economic, monetary | tax, taxation | educational, examination, school, university | court, judicial, justice, legal, penal, prison | benefit/benefits, national/social insurance, social security, welfare | care, health (care) | rail, railway, road, subway, transport | communication | warning | security | back-up, support | accounting, administrative | disciplinary | agricultural | commercial, market | cultural, social | grammatical, language | classification, classificatory, filing | belief, value | capitalist, caste, communist | multi-party, two-party | two-tier

VERB + SYSTEM

build, create, design, develop, devise, set up | adopt, apply, implement, introduce
implementing a new system of stock control
advocate | join | be part of
They are all part of the corrupt system we need to change.
manage, operate, run | manipulate, play, use
playing the legal system to his own advantage
organize
How is the sytem organized?
adapt, change, transform | tinker with | improve, modernize, overhaul, refine, reform, reorganize, simplify, streamline, strengthen
modernizing their judicial system
perfect | perpetuate
perpetuating an unjust system
clog up
a backlog of cases clogging up the system
destabilize, disrupt, undermine, weaken
attempts to disrupt the rail system
dismantle | abandon, do away with, scrap | destroy, overthrow | replace | restore | criticize, fight, rebel against
She spent her years at school fighting the system.
defend, support | beat, buck
You can never beat the system!
bypass
trying to bypass the bureaucratic system
blame
It''s not your fault - blame the system.

SYSTEM + VERB

exist | be based on sth, rest on sth
Every political system rests on certain fundamentals.
be aimed at sth, be geared to sth | allow sth, enable sth
This system allows you to study at your own speed.
offer sth, provide sth | be in operation, be operational, function, work
proving that the system works effectively
break down, collapse

PREP.

in a/the ~
at another point in the transport system
under a/the ~
Under the new system, all children will be monitored by a senior social worker.
~ for
devising an appropriate system for presenting the required information

2. group of things/parts that work together

ADJ.

sophisticated | computer, computer-based, electronic, manual, mechanical | audio, sound, stereo | satellite | air-conditioning, alarm, electronic mail, exhaust, heating, life-support, phone, plumbing, public address, sprinkler, telephone, ventilation | river, road

VERB + SYSTEM

build, create, develop | improve, streamline | install
For this month only, installing the system is free.

SYSTEM + VERB

function, operate, work | break down, fail
The air-conditioning system failed.

PREP.

in/with a/the ~
a fault in the sound system

3. the body, or parts of it that work together

ADJ.

auditory, circulatory, digestive, immune, (central) nervous, reproductive, respiratory, sensory, visual

PREP.

in a/the ~
a valve in thecirculatory system

PHRASES

a shock to the system
Returning to work after a long break can be a terrible shock to the system.

4. workings of a computer

ADJ.

advanced, powerful | interactive | online | compatible, incompatible | computer, PC | operating, operational | database, management, information | processing, recognition, retrieval
an information retrieval system
server, software | parallel

VERB + SYSTEM

install | boot up, reboot
Just reboot the system and try again.
build, design, develop
designing a voice recognition system
launch

SYSTEM + VERB

run
The system runs on this workstation.
crash, fail, go down
The entire computer system went down.

SYSTEM + NOUN

software

PREP.

in a/the ~
faults in the data processing system

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