aggregate

[ag-ri-git, -geyt, ag-ri-geyt]

adjective

1. formed by the conjunction or collection of particulars into a whole mass or sum; total; combined.

   the aggregate amount of indebtedness.

   Synonyms: whole, complete

2. Botany.

   1. (of a flower) formed of florets collected in a dense cluster but not cohering, as the daisy.

   2. (of a fruit) composed of a cluster of carpels belonging to the same flower, as the raspberry.

3. Geology.,  (of a rock) consisting of a mixture of minerals separable by mechanical means.

noun

1. a sum, mass, or assemblage of particulars; a total or gross amount.

   the aggregate of all past experience.

2. a cluster of soil particles: an aggregate larger than 250 micrometers in diameter, as the size of a small crumb, is technically regarded as a macroaggregate.

3. any of various loose, particulate materials, as sand, gravel, or pebbles, added to a cementing agent to make concrete, plaster, etc.

4. Mathematics.,  set.

verb (used with object)

aggregated, aggregating 

1. to bring together; collect into one sum, mass, or body.

   Synonyms: gather, accumulate, amass, assemble

2. to amount to (the number of ).

   The guns captured will aggregate five or six hundred.

verb (used without object)

aggregated, aggregating 

1. to combine and form a collection or mass.

aggregate

/ ˈæɡrɪˌɡeɪtɪv /

adjective

1. formed of separate units collected into a whole; collective; corporate

2. (of fruits and flowers) composed of a dense cluster of carpels or florets

noun

1. a sum or assemblage of many separate units; sum total

2. geology a rock, such as granite, consisting of a mixture of minerals

3. the sand and stone mixed with cement and water to make concrete

4. a group of closely related biotypes produced by apomixis, such as brambles, which are the Rubus fruticosus aggregate

5. taken as a whole

verb

1. to combine or be combined into a body, etc

2. (tr) to amount to (a number)

Other Word Forms

• aggregative adjective
• aggregately adjective
• aggregable adjective
• aggregateness noun
• aggregatory adjective
• hyperaggregate verb
• reaggregate verb
• subaggregate adjective
• subaggregately adverb
• unaggregated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aggregate¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin aggregātus (past participle of aggregāre ), equivalent to ag- ag- + greg- (stem of grex “flock”) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of aggregate¹

C16: from Latin aggregāre to add to a flock or herd, attach (oneself) to, from grex flock

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in the aggregate, taken or considered as a whole.

   In the aggregate, our losses have been relatively small.

Example Sentences

The "aggregate scale of the terrorist threat remains huge", he said, explaining how his teams were mostly focused on individuals or small groups, rather than larger established networks.

Read more on BBC

The low carbon reef cubes are made near Truro from recycled waste aggregate from Cornish clay mines.

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Recent aggregated customer card data analyzed by the Bank of America Institute has shown what the researchers termed a “wide divergence” in spending trends.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They also suffered a painful 9-1 aggregate defeat by Club Brugge in Champions League qualifying and have lost their opening two Europa League matches.

Read more on BBC

"These molecules prevent the formation of harmful protein aggregates that are typically linked with aging and disease," says Spang.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• accumulated www.thesaurus.com
• combined 
• corporate 
• cumulative