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conglomerate

[noun, adjective kuh n-glom-er-it, kuh ng-; verb kuh n-glom-uh-reyt, kuh ng-]
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noun
  1. anything composed of heterogeneous materials or elements.
  2. 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.
  3. Geology. a rock consisting of pebbles or the like embedded in a finer cementing material; consolidated gravel.
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adjective
  1. gathered into a rounded mass; consisting of parts so gathered; clustered.
  2. consisting of heterogeneous parts or elements.
  3. of or relating to a corporate conglomerate.
  4. Geology. of the nature of a conglomerate.
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verb (used with object), con·glom·er·at·ed, con·glom·er·at·ing.
  1. to bring together into a cohering mass.
  2. to gather into a ball or rounded mass.
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verb (used without object), con·glom·er·at·ed, con·glom·er·at·ing.
  1. to collect or cluster together.
  2. (of a company) to become part of or merge with a conglomerate.
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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. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for conglomerates

conglomerate

noun (kənˈɡlɒmərɪt)
  1. a thing composed of heterogeneous elements; mass
  2. any coarse-grained sedimentary rock consisting of rounded fragments of rock embedded in a finer matrixCompare agglomerate (def. 3)
  3. a large corporation consisting of a group of companies dealing in widely diversified goods, services, etc
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verb (kənˈɡlɒməˌreɪt)
  1. to form into a cluster or mass
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adjective (kənˈɡlɒmərɪt)
  1. made up of heterogeneous elements; massed
  2. (of sedimentary rocks) consisting of rounded fragments within a finer matrix
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Word Origin

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-.

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conglomerate

n.

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

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conglomerate

v.

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

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
conglomerates in Medicine

conglomerate

(kən-glŏm′ər-ĭt)
adj.
  1. Gathered or aggregated into a mass.
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Related formscon•glom′er•a′tion (-ə-rā′shən) n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
conglomerates in Science

conglomerate

[kən-glŏm′ə-rāt′]
  1. 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.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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.

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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.