alloy

[ noun al-oi, uh-loi; verb uh-loi ]

See synonyms for: alloy alloyed on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

standard; quality; fineness.
admixture, as of good with evil.
anything added that serves to reduce quality or purity.

verb (used with object)

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

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

Other words for alloy

4	fusion, blend, composite

See synonyms for alloy on Thesaurus.com

Other words from alloy

un·al·loyed, adjective

Words that may be confused with alloy

allay, alley, alloy , ally

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

How to use alloy in a sentence

This property may be increased by alloying the steel with tungsten and hardening it before it is magnetized.
Aviation Engines | Victor Wilfred Pag
The republic debased the coinage by reducing its weight, the empire by alloying it.
History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, Volume I (of 2) | John William Draper
They are prepared by alloying known weights of gold and lead, so as to get an alloy of known composition, say one per cent.
A Textbook of Assaying: For the Use of Those Connected with Mines. | Cornelius Beringer and John Jacob Beringer
The people who have known happiness without the alloying if or but are few and far between.
Life on the Stage | Clara Morris
Copper was greatly in use among the ancient Egyptians and by alloying it with tin produced bronze.
The Historical Child | Oscar Chrisman

British Dictionary definitions for alloy

alloy

noun(ˈælɔɪ, əˈlɔɪ)

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

verb(əˈlɔɪ) (tr)

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

C16: from Old French aloi a mixture, from aloier to combine, from Latin alligāre, from ligāre to bind

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

Scientific definitions for alloy

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.

Cultural definitions for alloy

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.

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