conglomerate

[noun, adjective kuh n-glom-er-it, kuh ng-; verb kuh n-glom-uh-reyt, kuh ng-]

noun

anything composed of heterogeneous materials or elements.

a corporation consisting of a number of subsidiary companies or divisions in a variety of unrelated industries, usually as a result of merger or acquisition.

Geology. a rock consisting of pebbles or the like embedded in a finer cementing material; consolidated gravel.

adjective

gathered into a rounded mass; consisting of parts so gathered; clustered.

consisting of heterogeneous parts or elements.

of or relating to a corporate conglomerate.

Geology. of the nature of a conglomerate.

verb (used with object), con·glom·er·at·ed, con·glom·er·at·ing.

to bring together into a cohering mass.

to gather into a ball or rounded mass.

verb (used without object), con·glom·er·at·ed, con·glom·er·at·ing.

to collect or cluster together.

(of a company) to become part of or merge with a conglomerate.

Origin of conglomerate

1565–75; < Latin conglomerātus (past participle of conglomerāre), equivalent to con- con- + glomer- (stem of glomus) ball of yarn + -ātus -ate¹

Related formscon·glom·er·at·ic

[kuh n-glom-uh-rat-ik, kuh ng-] /kənˌglɒm əˈræt ɪk, kəŋ-/, con·glom·er·it·ic

[kuh n-glom-uh-rit-ik, kuh ng-] /kənˌglɒm əˈrɪt ɪk, kəŋ-/, adjectivede·con·glom·er·ate, verb, de·con·glom·er·at·ed, de·con·glom·er·at·ing.min·i·con·glom·er·ate, nounpseu·do·con·glom·er·ate, adjectivesu·per·con·glom·er·ate, nounun·con·glom·er·at·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for conglomerates

cartel, group, chain, syndicate, varied, assorted, motley, variegated, mixed, massed, clustered, amassed, agglomeration, aggregation, agglomerate, combine, aggregate, trust, conglomeration

Examples from the Web for conglomerates

Contemporary Examples of conglomerates

Partly afraid of the Republicans, and partly afraid of the conglomerates (they seek campaign contributions from Citibank too).
How Can Dems Be Losing to These Idiots?
Michael Tomasky
October 29, 2014
They have been fighting back, putting pressure on conglomerates like Cargill to harvest oil palms sustainably.
Our Taste for Cheap Palm Oil Is Killing Chimpanzees
Carrie Arnold
July 11, 2014
Chinese conglomerates gobble up American firms, including Starbucks.
Must-Reads: 'The Fat Years,' 'Drifting House,' and 'The Map and the Territory'
Isaac Stone Fish, Anna Clark, Cameron Martin
January 30, 2012

Historical Examples of conglomerates

Muds, sands, grits and conglomerates are the predominant types.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 1
Various
The most remarkable deposits are the conglomerates of the Dwyka series.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 2
Various
The rocks along this stream are all sandstones, limestone and conglomerates, with many thin calcite veins.
Golden Alaska
Ernest Ingersoll
Geologists are aware that many ancient sandstones and conglomerates are bound together or colored by iron.
Principles of Geology
Charles Lyell
The narrow foothill belt is composed of Tertiary sandstones that grade into loose sands and conglomerates.
The Andes of Southern Peru
Isaiah Bowman

British Dictionary definitions for conglomerates

conglomerate

noun (kənˈɡlɒmərɪt)

a thing composed of heterogeneous elements; mass

any coarse-grained sedimentary rock consisting of rounded fragments of rock embedded in a finer matrixCompare agglomerate (def. 3)

a large corporation consisting of a group of companies dealing in widely diversified goods, services, etc

verb (kənˈɡlɒməˌreɪt)

to form into a cluster or mass

adjective (kənˈɡlɒmərɪt)

made up of heterogeneous elements; massed

(of sedimentary rocks) consisting of rounded fragments within a finer matrix

Word Origin for conglomerate

C16: from Latin conglomerāre to roll up, from glomerāre to wind into a ball, from glomus ball of thread

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

Word Origin and History for conglomerates

conglomerate

adj.

1570s, from Latin conglomeratus, past participle of conglomerare "to roll together," from com- "together" (see com-) + glomerare "to gather into a ball," from glomus (genitive glomeris) "a ball," from PIE root *glem-.

conglomerate

"large business group," 1967, from conglomerate (adj.).

conglomerate

1590s, from Latin conglomeratus, past participle of conglomerare (see conglomerate (adj.)). Related: Conglomerated; conglomerating.

conglomerates in Medicine

conglomerate

[kən-glŏm′ər-ĭt]

adj.

Gathered or aggregated into a mass.

Related formscon•glom′er•a′tion (-ə-rā′shən) n.

conglomerates in Science

conglomerate

[kən-glŏm′ə-rāt′]

A coarse-grained sedimentary rock consisting of round rock fragments cemented together by hardened silt, clay, calcium carbonate, or a similar material. The fragments (known as clasts) have a diameter of at least 2 mm (0.08 inches), vary in composition and origin, and may include pebbles, cobbles, boulders, or fossilized seashells. Conglomerates often form through the transportation and deposition of sediments by streams, alluvial fans, and glaciers.

conglomerates in Culture

conglomerate

[(kuhn-glom-uhr-uht)]

A corporation with diversified holdings that are acquired through mergers and acquisitions but that are not necessarily related.