alloy

¹al·loy

noun \ˈa-ˌlȯi also ə-ˈlȯi\

Definition of ALLOY

1

: the degree of mixture with base metals : fineness

2

: a substance composed of two or more metals or of a metal and a nonmetal intimately united usually by being fused together and dissolving in each other when molten; also : the state of union of the components

3

a : an admixture that lessens value b : an impairing alien element

4

: a compound, mixture, or union of different things <an ethnic alloy of many peoples>

5

archaic : a metal mixed with a more valuable metal to give durability or some other desired quality

Examples of ALLOY

1. testing the properties of various alloys
2. a part made of aluminum alloy

Origin of ALLOY

French aloi, from Old French alei, from aleir to combine, from Latin alligare to bind — more at ally

First Known Use: 1604

Related to ALLOY

Synonyms: admixture, blend, amalgam, amalgamation, cocktail, combination, composite, compound, conflation, emulsion, fusion, intermixture, meld, mix, mixture, synthesis

Related Words: half-and-half; absorption, blending, coalescence, coalition, commingling, commixture, compost, concretion, homogenization, immingling, immixture, incorporation, integration, interfusion, intermingling, mergence, merger, merging, mingling; assortment, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jumble, medley, mélange, mishmash, motley, patchwork, potpourri, variety; accumulation, aggregation, conglomeration

Near Antonyms: component, constituent, element, ingredient

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Other Metals and Metallurgy Terms

assay, bloom, bullion, ductile, ingot, malleable, patina, plate, temper, tensile

Rhymes with ALLOY

ahoy, annoy, bad boy, ball boy, batboy, B-boy, beachboy, bellboy, bell buoy, best boy, big boy, bok choy, borzoi, boy toy, busboy, callboy, carboy, charpoy, choirboy, convoy, cowboy, decoy, deploy, destroy, doughboy, employ, enjoy, envoy, flyboy, footboy, Hanoi, hautbois, highboy, homeboy, houseboy, killjoy, Khoikhoi, life buoy, linkboy, lowboy, McCoy, newsboy, old boy, page boy, playboy, plowboy, po'boy, postboy, potboy, Quemoy, Rob Roy, Saint Croix, Savoy, schoolboy, sepoy, stock boy, tallboy, tatsoi, teapoy, Tolstoy, tomboy, travois, viceroy