amalgam

amal·gam

noun \ə-ˈmal-gəm\

Definition of AMALGAM

1

: an alloy of mercury with another metal that is solid or liquid at room temperature according to the proportion of mercury present and is used especially in making tooth cements

2

: a mixture of different elements

Examples of AMALGAM

1. <a church that is an amalgam of traditional and modern architectural styles>

Origin of AMALGAM

Middle English amalgame, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin amalgama

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to AMALGAM

Synonyms

admixture, alloy, blend, 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 Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

amal·gam

noun \ə-ˈmal-gəm\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of AMALGAM

: an alloy of mercury with another metal that is solid or liquid at room temperature according to the proportion of mercury present and is used especially in making tooth cements

amalgam

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Alloy of mercury and one or more other metals. Those of silver, gold, and palladium occur naturally. Those with a very high mercury content are liquid; others are crystalline. Amalgams of silver and tin, with minor amounts of copper and zinc, are used in dentistry to fill teeth. Sodium amalgam is used in manufacturing chlorine and sodium hydroxide by electrolysis of brine. Amalgams are used to recover silver and gold from their ores: The ore is shaken with mercury, the amalgam is separated and heated until the mercury distills off (see distillation), and the precious metal is the residue. Amalgams are also used to silver mirrors and apply other metal coatings.