alloy

American  

[al-oi, uh-loi, uh-loi] / ˈæl ɔɪ, əˈlɔɪ, əˈlɔɪ /

noun

• alloys
  plural

1. a substance composed of two or more metals, or of a metal or metals with a nonmetal, intimately mixed, as by fusion or electrodeposition.

2. a less costly metal mixed with a more valuable one.

3. standard; quality; fineness.

4. admixture, as of good with evil.

   Synonyms:

   composite, blend, fusion

5. anything added that serves to reduce quality or purity.

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verb (used with object)

• alloys,
  present (3rd person singular)
• alloyed,
  past participle,  past
• alloying
  present participle

1. to mix (metals or metal with nonmetal) so as to form an alloy.

2. to reduce in value by an admixture of a less costly metal.

3. to debase, impair, or reduce by admixture; adulterate.

alloy British  

noun

1. a metallic material, such as steel, brass, or bronze, consisting of a mixture of two or more metals or of metallic elements with nonmetallic elements. Alloys often have physical properties markedly different from those of the pure metals

2. something that impairs the quality or reduces the value of the thing to which it is added

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verb

1. to add (one metal or element to another metal or element) to obtain a substance with a desired property

2. to debase (a pure substance) by mixing with an inferior element

3. to diminish or impair

alloy Scientific  

/ ăl′oi′ /

1. A metallic substance made by mixing and fusing two or more metals, or a metal and a nonmetal, to obtain desirable qualities such as hardness, lightness, and strength. Brass, bronze, and steel are all alloys.

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alloy Cultural  

1. A material made of two or more metals, or of a metal and another material. For example, brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. Alloys often have unexpected characteristics. In the examples given above, brass is stronger than either copper or zinc, and steel is stronger than either iron or carbon.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unalloyed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• alloys
  plural

Participles

• alloying
  present
• alloyed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• alloy
  simple
• alloys
  simple
• have alloyed
  perfect
• has alloyed
  perfect
• am alloying
  progressive
• are alloying
  progressive
• is alloying
  progressive
• have been alloying
  perfect progressive
• has been alloying
  perfect progressive

Past

• alloyed
  simple
• had alloyed
  perfect
• was alloying
  progressive
• were alloying
  progressive
• had been alloying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will alloy
  simple
• will have alloyed
  perfect
• will be alloying
  progressive
• will have been alloying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of alloy

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French aloi, Old French alei, noun derivative of aleier “to combine,” from Latin alligāre “to bind up,” equivalent to al- “toward” ( see al-) + ligāre “to bind” ( see ally, ligament); replacing earlier allay, Middle English, from Anglo-French allai

Explanation

You may have heard of aluminum alloy on a car. What that means is that there is another metal mixed in with the aluminum, to save money and/or to strengthen the wheels. The wheels are an alloy (a mix), rather than pure. In addition to indicating a dilution of one metal with another, alloy can refer to the dilution of a feeling or a quality. Knowing that you look awesome in your Halloween costume would be an alloy to the embarrassment of showing up to a party where you are the only one in a costume.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alloy alloys alloyed alloying

But now experts have developed new "super elastic" springs using a special metal called nitinol, a nickel and titanium alloy, with Rory the first patient to have them fitted.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

The advance could eventually make the alloy, which is widely used in aerospace applications and may have uses in other industries, printable on more common commercial equipment.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026

Most cymbals are made of a copper and tin alloy that is melted into molten bronze which is poured into moulds and cooled into disc-shaped blanks.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

PMB Technology is expected to pivot from silicon metal manufacturing to higher-value silicon-aluminium alloy smelting, a move that could improve long-term profitability, though meaningful earnings contributions are unlikely before production ramps up in 2027.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

I was silent; Helen had calmed me; but in the tranquillity she imparted there was an alloy of inexpressible sadness.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

The researchers say the same AI-guided approach could be adapted to identify workable processing conditions for other metal alloys and additive manufacturing systems.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026

Aerospace-grade aluminum alloys can’t be made without it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

More recently, platinum intermetallic catalysts have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional platinum alloys because they can offer improved activity and stability.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026

Canadian exports of gold also increased during the month, and exports of unwrought aluminum and aluminum alloys rose to their highest value in four years with deliveries to the Netherlands, Italy and Greece.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

Bassal is a light, silvery metal, useful in certain alloys that I would be using to construct my lamp.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

They also highlight the importance of carefully selecting candidate materials that can effectively synergize when alloyed with other metals.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2023

The country brought in 255,744 tonnes, including primary metal and unwrought, alloyed aluminium, last month, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.

From Reuters ● Dec. 18, 2022

The knock-on consequences are also particularly alarming for automakers, where silicon is alloyed with aluminum to make engine blocks and other parts.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 4, 2021

That was pure base boosting alloyed by just a pinch of sticking to the other side.

From Fox News ● Jul. 17, 2019

The new building sparkling in the North Carolina spring sunshine was a source of pride throughout the black community, but it was a pride alloyed with cynicism for Durham’s poorest black citizens.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

It will handle the metalization and alloying part of the rare-earths supply chain — one of the key areas China has used to control the sector, he noted.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 17, 2025

A third stream comes when the resulting pig iron is turned into steel by cooking it a bit further—baking off most of the remaining carbon—and alloying it with additives such as chromium or titanium.

From Science Magazine ● Apr. 30, 2024

Arsenic is used as an alloying agent and also to make glass, pigments, textiles, adhesives and pesticides, the WHO says.

From Reuters ● Mar. 24, 2023

Along with silicon, they’re also facing a surge in magnesium, another alloying ingredient that’s faced production issues during China’s power crunch.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 4, 2021

Antimony is used mainly for alloying with other metals.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by C. K. (Charles Kenneth) Leith