amalgam

[ uh-mal-guhm ]

/ əˈmæl gəm /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for amalgam on Thesaurus.com

noun

an alloy of mercury with another metal or metals.

an alloy that consists chiefly of silver mixed with mercury and variable amounts of other metals and is used as a dental filling.

a rare mineral, an alloy of silver and mercury, occurring as silver-white crystals or grains.

a mixture or combination: His character is a strange amalgam of contradictory traits.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of amalgam

1425–75; late Middle English amalgam(e) <Middle French <Medieval Latin <dialectal Arabic al the + malgham<Greek málagma softening agent, equivalent to malak- (stem of malássein to soften) + -ma noun suffix

Words nearby amalgam

amal., amalaka, Amalek, Amalekite, Amalfi, amalgam, amalgamate, amalgamation, amalgam tattoo, Amalia, Amalthaea

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use amalgam in a sentence

As for human creativity, we ourselves are an amalgam of bones, muscles, arteries, and veins.
This NFT Painting Is a Work of Art - Issue 104: Harmony|Arthur I. Miller|August 18, 2021|Nautilus
Because sewage is an amalgam of all types of human waste, the challenge for any scientist keen on analyzing it is to develop the right probe for snatching out just what they are looking for.
Human Waste Could Be The Next Big Weapon in Controlling COVID-19|Alice Park|June 18, 2021|Time
With a Woodstock’s-worth of sociopolitical observations belted out to bruising electro beats accompanied by moody synth vibes,’ the series of recently released songs are an odd amalgam of poignant reflections and sheer abandon.
Vipermilk is a Thought-Provoking Party|Karli Owens|April 18, 2021|No Straight News
Much like his introduction, Kearney’s conclusion reads less like a call to action and more like an amalgam of previously known information.
Exploring the sense of touch, and why we hunger for contact|Sophie Dess|February 26, 2021|Washington Post

Stellantis will be an amalgam of model lines with enviable positions in certain segments, but neither company has much of a foothold in the luxury-car business or China’s vast auto market.
Investors cheer as Fiat Chrysler-PSA merger heads to the finish line|Ian Mount|January 4, 2021|Fortune
Spall says that, faced with the contradictions in the research, they created an amalgam of them.
Why Can’t Movies Capture Genius?|Clive Irving|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Well, it was based on an amalgam of bands—Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Motley Crue, Judas Priest, and Van Halen.
Rob Reiner on the State of Romcoms, ‘The Princess Bride’s’ Alternate Ending, and the Red Viper|Marlow Stern|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The rest of the night was a restless amalgam of anxiety and adrenaline.
Why Men Shouldn’t Wait To Have Kids|Conor P. Williams|March 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The speech began as an amalgam of scare tactics and bipartisan appeal.
Obama Warns of Big Layoffs Unless GOP Caves|Howard Kurtz|February 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The struggling technology company is an amalgam of businesses that could be worth more separately than they are together.
Why Hewlett-Packard Should Consider Breaking Up|Rob Cox, Robert Cyran|December 7, 2012|DAILY BEAST
If the metal to be cleansed is gold, you will see a pasty mass or amalgam, as it is called, of a yellowish tinge.
St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 5, March, 1878|Various
In a few seconds the new compound (ammonium amalgam) of the consistence of butter is formed.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I|Arnold Cooley
Compounded or blended with quicksilver; formed into an amalgam.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I|Arnold Cooley
Looking-glasses are covered on the back with an amalgam of mercury and tin.
Heads of Lectures on a Course of Experimental Philosophy: Particularly Including Chemistry|Joseph Priestley
Make an amalgam, without heat, of two drachms of leaf silver with one drachm of quicksilver.
The Book of Curiosities|I. Platts

British Dictionary definitions for amalgam

amalgam

/ (əˈmælɡəm) /

noun

an alloy of mercury with another metal, esp with silverdental amalgam

a rare white metallic mineral that consists of silver and mercury and occurs in deposits of silver and cinnabar

a blend or combination

Word Origin for amalgam

C15: from Medieval Latin amalgama, of obscure origin

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

Medical definitions for amalgam

amalgam

[ ə-măl′gəm ]

Any of various alloys of mercury with other metals, as with tin or silver, used for filling teeth.

Scientific definitions for amalgam

amalgam

[ ə-măl′gəm ]

An alloy of mercury and another metal, especially:

An alloy of mercury and silver used in dental fillings.

An alloy of silver and tin used in silvering mirrors.

amalgam

Origin of amalgam

Words nearby amalgam

Words related to amalgam

How to use amalgam in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for amalgam

Word Origin for amalgam

Medical definitions for amalgam

Scientific definitions for amalgam