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

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

²al·loy

verb \ə-ˈlȯi also ˈa-ˌlȯi\

Definition of ALLOY

transitive verb

1

a : temper, moderate

b : to impair or debase by admixture

2

: to reduce the purity of by mixing with a less valuable metal

3

: to mix so as to form an alloy

intransitive verb

: to lend itself to being alloyed <iron alloys well>

First Known Use of ALLOY

1661

al·loy

noun \ˈal-ˌȯi, ə-ˈlȯi\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of ALLOY

1

: the degree of mixture with base metals

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

—al·loy \ə-ˈlȯi, ˈal-ˌȯi\ (audio pronunciation) (audio pronunciation) transitive verb

alloy

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Metallic substance composed of two or more elements, as either a mixture, compound, or solid solution. The components of alloys are ordinarily themselves metals, though carbon is an essential nonmetal component of steel. Alloys are usually produced by melting the mixture of ingredients. The value of alloys was discovered in very ancient times; brass (copper and zinc) and bronze (copper and tin) were especially important. Today the most important are the alloy steels, which have a wide range of special properties, including hardness, toughness, corrosion resistance, magnetizability, and workability.