agglutinate

[ verb uh-gloot-n-eyt; adjective uh-gloot-n-it, -eyt ]

/ verb əˈglut nˌeɪt; adjective əˈglut n ɪt, -ˌeɪt /

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See synonyms for agglutinate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with or without object), ag·glu·ti·nat·ed, ag·glu·ti·nat·ing.

to unite or cause to adhere, as with glue.

Immunology. to clump or cause to clump, as bacteria or blood platelets.

Linguistics. to form by agglutination.

adjective

united by or as by glue.

agglutinative.

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Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of agglutinate

1535–45; <Latin agglūtinātus (past participle of agglūtināre), equivalent to ag-ag- + glūtin- (stem of glūten glue) + -ātus-ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM agglutinate

ag·glu·tin·a·bil·i·ty

[uh-gloot-n-uh-bil-i-tee], /əˌglut n əˈbɪl ɪ ti/, nounag·glu·tin·a·ble, adjectivein·ter·ag·glu·ti·nate, verb (used without object), in·ter·ag·glu·ti·nat·ed, in·ter·ag·glu·ti·nat·ing.non·ag·glu·ti·nat·ing, adjective

Words nearby agglutinate

aggie, aggiornamento, agglomerate, agglomeration, agglutinant, agglutinate, agglutination, agglutinative, agglutinin, agglutinogen, aggrade

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use agglutinate in a sentence

The abundance of agglutinates in a lunar regolith sample depends on the length of time that the material has been exposed on the surface, which is referred to as the “maturity” of a lunar soil.
Moon Settlers: Scientists Say Plants Will Grow Best in Lunar ‘Soil’ From Fresh Impact Craters|Monica Grady|May 15, 2022|Singularity Hub
Undiluted normal blood can agglutinate most bacteria, but loses this power when diluted to any considerable degree.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
At any rate, the agglutinate character of the language is indicated.
Opuscula|Robert Gordon Latham
One or two instances may suffice to show the agglutinate character of the language.
The First Landing on Wrangel Island|Irving C. Rosse

It represents the Malay in its most complex form; and is essentially agglutinate in respect to its inflection.
The Natural History of the Varieties of Man|Robert Gordon Latham
To the agglutinate languages belong the American and Turanian families.
The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 3|Hubert Howe Bancroft

British Dictionary definitions for agglutinate

agglutinate

verb (əˈɡluːtɪˌneɪt)

to adhere or cause to adhere, as with glue

linguistics to combine or be combined by agglutination

(tr) to cause (bacteria, red blood cells, etc) to clump together

adjective (əˈɡluːtɪnɪt, -ˌneɪt)

united or stuck, as by glue

Derived forms of agglutinate

agglutinability, nounagglutinable, adjectiveagglutinant, adjective

Word Origin for agglutinate

C16: from Latin agglūtināre to glue to, from gluten glue

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

agglutinate

Origin of agglutinate

OTHER WORDS FROM agglutinate

Words nearby agglutinate

Words related to agglutinate

How to use agglutinate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for agglutinate

Derived forms of agglutinate

Word Origin for agglutinate