conglomerate

[kuhn-glom-er-it, kuhng-, kuhn-glom-uh-reyt, kuhng-]

noun

1. anything composed of heterogeneous materials or elements.

2. a corporation consisting of a number of subsidiary companies or divisions in a variety of unrelated industries, usually as a result of merger or acquisition.

3. Geology.,  a rock consisting of pebbles or the like embedded in a finer cementing material; consolidated gravel.

adjective

1. gathered into a rounded mass; consisting of parts so gathered; clustered.

2. consisting of heterogeneous parts or elements.

3. of or relating to a corporate conglomerate.

4. Geology.,  of the nature of a conglomerate.

verb (used with object)

conglomerated, conglomerating 

1. to bring together into a cohering mass.

2. to gather into a ball or rounded mass.

verb (used without object)

conglomerated, conglomerating 

1. to collect or cluster together.

2. (of a company) to become part of or merge with a conglomerate.

conglomerate

noun

1. a thing composed of heterogeneous elements; mass

2. any coarse-grained sedimentary rock consisting of rounded fragments of rock embedded in a finer matrix Compare agglomerate

3. a large corporation consisting of a group of companies dealing in widely diversified goods, services, etc

verb

1. to form into a cluster or mass

adjective

1. made up of heterogeneous elements; massed

2. (of sedimentary rocks) consisting of rounded fragments within a finer matrix

conglomerate

1. A coarse-grained sedimentary rock consisting of round rock fragments cemented together by hardened silt, clay, calcium carbonate, or a similar material. The fragments (known as clasts) have a diameter of at least 2 mm (0.08 inches), vary in composition and origin, and may include pebbles, cobbles, boulders, or fossilized seashells. Conglomerates often form through the transportation and deposition of sediments by streams, alluvial fans, and glaciers.

conglomerate

1. A corporation with diversified holdings that are acquired through mergers and acquisitions but that are not necessarily related.

Other Word Forms

• conglomeratic adjective
• conglomeritic adjective
• deconglomerate verb
• miniconglomerate noun
• pseudoconglomerate adjective
• superconglomerate noun
• unconglomerated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conglomerate¹

1565–75; < Latin conglomerātus (past participle of conglomerāre ), equivalent to con- con- + glomer- (stem of glomus ) ball of yarn + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of conglomerate¹

C16: from Latin conglomerāre to roll up, from glomerāre to wind into a ball, from glomus ball of thread

Example Sentences

It's also possible that he sees a future as an all-powerful political puppet master, head of a conglomerate that controls businesses, a mercenary army and a political party.

Read more on BBC

The conglomerate is also sitting on a record cash pile of $381 billion.

Read more on Barron's

It is likely the first of many deals for Cote and Knott, who see a chance to combine private-equity-backed companies to create a new industrials conglomerate, the people familiar with the matter said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Disney is the latest media conglomerate to find itself in a showdown with YouTube TV.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A year after the death of Ratan Tata, the Tata Group - a gigantic Indian salt-to-steel conglomerate which he steered into a global, modern, technologically advanced enterprise - finds itself facing a plethora of crises.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• cartel 
• chain 
• group 
• syndicate