Context

When the meaning of a text or part of a text seems to hang on a particular word, and all the previous techniques don't help you to discover what it means, look at its context, the words before and after it.  

• Does it fit into a phrase?  

• If it looks like a noun, think what nouns usually accompany the verb that's used in the sentence.

• If it's a verb, what verb usually occurs with the noun that comes before or after it?  

• If it's an adjective, what adjective usually accompanies the noun it's with?  

Words typically accompany other words, are used often with them.  What words are most probably used in English in the following sentences? 

He has a _____ temper. 
She _____ her eyes and looked at him. 
They _____ the trees with a chainsaw.

Words that often occur together, without necessarily being idioms or clichés, are called Collocations.   

about Collocations.