conglomerate

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

/ noun, adjective kənˈglɒm ər ɪt, kəŋ-; verb kənˈglɒm əˌreɪt, kəŋ- /

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.

Nearby words

congestive heart failure, congestive splenomegaly, congius, conglobate, conglobe, conglomerate, conglomerateur, conglomeration, conglomeratize, conglutinant, conglutinate

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 forms

con·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, adjective

su·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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
Slieve League is capped by the remnants of outlying beds of lower carboniferous age, conglomerates, with fossil plant remains.
Climbing in The British Isles, Vol. II|W. P. Haskett Smith

Macigno or Tassello—Vienna Sandstone, conglomerates, marls and shales.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 6|Various
Carboniferous beds, consisting chiefly of slates, sandstones and conglomerates, are found in the south-eastern provinces.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 8|Various
The pebbles of the conglomerates are, for the most part, rounded fragments of the fossiliferous slates before mentioned.
A Manual of Elementary Geology|Charles Lyell.
Some stratified Silurian shales and limestone occur, and there is a small sheet of old red sandstone, with conglomerates.
Climbing in The British Isles, Vol. II|W. P. Haskett Smith

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

Medicine definitions for conglomerates

conglomerate

[ kən-glŏm′ər-ĭt ]

adj.

Gathered or aggregated into a mass.

Related forms

con•glom′er•a′tion (-ə-rā′shən) n.

Science definitions for conglomerates

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.

Culture definitions for conglomerates

conglomerate

[ (kuhn-glom-uhr-uht) ]

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