alloy
a substance composed of two or more metals, or of a metal or metals with a nonmetal, intimately mixed, as by fusion or electrodeposition.
a less costly metal mixed with a more valuable one.
to mix (metals or metal with nonmetal) so as to form an alloy.
to reduce in value by an admixture of a less costly metal.
to debase, impair, or reduce by admixture; adulterate.
Origin of alloy
1Other words for alloy
Other words from alloy
- un·al·loyed, adjective
Words that may be confused with alloy
Words Nearby alloy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use alloy in a sentence
The best elastocaloric materials so far are shape memory alloys.
In an air conditioner or refrigerator, you would then have to quickly remove this heat while keeping the alloy in its pliable, low-entropy phase.
When an external force pushes on the alloy while it’s in its rigid phase, the metal transitions to its pliable, lower-entropy phase.
Once the force is removed, the alloy returns to its rigid, higher-entropy phase.
Led by Jeehwan Kim, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, the researchers borrowed from principles of metallurgy to fabricate each memristor from alloys of silver and copper, along with silicon.
In 2012, Li allegedly supplied the Iranians with 20,000 kilos of steel pipe and 1,300 aluminum alloy tubes.
The same is now true with Barack Obama but on steroids, with the added alloy of race inserted into the mix.
The zirconium alloy will react with water to produce hydrogen and oxide, but it also produces heat that has to be removed.
It shows a simple mind to acknowledge at court the smallest alloy of common blood, and not to set up for a nobleman.
The 'Characters' of Jean de La Bruyre | Jean de La BruyreThe buckets, Fig. 3, are formed of some easily melted, but not too soft metal alloy which can be cast in plaster molds.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2 | VariousAn alloy is a mixture or medley, anything allowed is according to law, and hallow is the same word as holy.
Archaic England | Harold BayleyA good deal of Vanadium alloy is used, and this is made in America.
A Journey Through France in War Time | Joseph G. Butler, Jr.Of the two latter they formed an alloy, and made tools of the bronze.
Mexico | Charles Reginald Enock
British Dictionary definitions for alloy
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
something that impairs the quality or reduces the value of the thing to which it is added
to add (one metal or element to another metal or element) to obtain a substance with a desired property
to debase (a pure substance) by mixing with an inferior element
to diminish or impair
Origin of alloy
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for alloy
[ ăl′oi′ ]
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for alloy
[ (al-oy, uh-loy) ]
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.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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