Main Entry: co·a·lesce

Pronunciation: \ˌkō-ə-ˈles\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): co·a·lesced; co·a·lesc·ing

Etymology: Latin coalescere, from co- + alescere to grow — more at old

Date: circa 1656

intransitive verb 1 : to grow together
2 a : to unite into a whole : fuse <separate townships have coalesced into a single, sprawling colony — Donald Gould> b : to unite for a common end : join forces <people with different points of view coalesce into opposing factions — I. L. Horowitz>
3 : to arise from the combination of distinct elements <an organized and a popular resistance immediately coalesced — C. C. Menges>transitive verb : to cause to unite <sometimes a book coalesces a public into a mass market — Walter Meade>

synonyms see mix

— co·a·les·cence \-ˈle-s^ən(t)s\ noun

— co·a·les·cent \-s^ənt\ adjective