agglomerate

American  

[uh-glom-uh-reyt, uh-glom-er-it, -uh-reyt] / əˈglɒm əˌreɪt, əˈglɒm ər ɪt, -əˌreɪt /

verb (used with or without object)

agglomerated, agglomerating

1. to collect or gather into a cluster or mass.

   Synonyms:

   accumulate, amass, assemble

   Antonyms:

   scatter, disperse

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adjective

1. gathered together into a cluster or mass.

2. Botany. crowded into a dense cluster, but not cohering.

noun

1. a mass of things clustered together.

2. rock composed of rounded or angular volcanic fragments.

agglomerate British  

verb

1. to form or be formed into a mass or cluster; collect

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noun

1. a confused mass

2. a rock consisting of angular fragments of volcanic lava Compare conglomerate

adjective

1. formed into a mass

Usage

What does agglomerate mean? Agglomerate means to collect or gather into a cluster or mass, especially a messy or jumbled one. As a verb, agglomerate is typically used in a passive way (as opposed to someone doing the agglomerating), as in Much of the garbage in the ocean has agglomerated into a giant floating mass. The process of agglomerating is called agglomeration. Agglomeration can also refer to a messy cluster or jumbled collection of various elements. Agglomeration is often used to refer to groupings of miscellaneous things—such as various types of objects or even people—into a single (though often somewhat messy) unit. Agglomerate can also be used as a noun to mean the same thing. The similar word conglomerate can be used in many of the same ways that agglomerate can, but it doesn’t doesn’t always imply a sense of messiness like agglomerate does. And conglomerate is most commonly used as a noun meaning a large corporation consisting of many companies. Agglomerate can also be used as an adjective to describe things gathered together into a jumbled mass, as in My desk has become an agglomerate mess. It can also be used in a few more specific ways. In botany, it’s used as an adjective to describe plant parts that are crowded into a dense cluster but not fully connected. In geology, it’s used as a noun referring to a type of rock composed of volcanic fragments. Example: I forgot that the art project was due today, so my collage is really just an agglomerate of things I found around the house.

Other Word Forms

• agglomeration noun
• agglomerative adjective
• agglomerator noun
• nonagglomerative adjective
• unagglomerative adjective

Etymology

Origin of agglomerate

1675–85; < Latin agglomerātus (past participle of agglomerāre ), equivalent to ag- ag- + glomer- (stem of glomus ball of yarn) + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Ideas don’t develop — they agglomerate in a repetitive, undifferentiated jumble, and the power they might have drains away.

From New York Times • Jan. 31, 2024

The virus makes countless copies of Ralph himself, which eventually agglomerate to become a Ralphzilla that destroys the web’s infrastructure in pursuit of trapping Vanellope in their relationship.

From Slate • Dec. 4, 2018

Ross, 79, billionaire investor known for aggressive moves to agglomerate and sell failing steel- and coal-industry interests.

From The Guardian • Jan. 3, 2017

So kudos to Schumer for using a fresh word, which we will promptly agglomerate.

From Washington Post • Aug. 7, 2013

This view, that the agglomerate of earth and water was not a perfect sphere, was universally accepted in the later Middle Ages, and the new cosmography required its refutation.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton