mixture
Americannoun
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a product of mixing.
- Synonyms:
- compound, combination, blend
-
any combination or blend of different elements, kinds, qualities, etc..
a mixture of good and bad traits.
- Synonyms:
- hodgepodge, potpourri, mélange, medley, jumble, miscellany, conglomeration
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Chemistry, Physics. an aggregate of two or more substances that are not chemically united and that exist in no fixed proportion to each other.
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a fabric woven of yarns combining various colors.
a heather mixture.
-
an added element or ingredient; admixture.
noun
-
the act of mixing or state of being mixed
-
something mixed; a result of mixing
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chem a substance consisting of two or more substances mixed together without any chemical bonding between them
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pharmacol a liquid medicine in which an insoluble compound is suspended in the liquid
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music an organ stop that controls several ranks of pipes sounding the upper notes in a harmonic series
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the mixture of petrol vapour and air in an internal-combustion engine
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of mixture
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin mixtūra, from mixt(us) “mingled” (past participle of miscēre “to mingle”; see mixed) + -ūra -ure
Explanation
A mixture is, simply, the product of mixing. Sometimes, like in the case of ice cream with fudge, a mixture can turn out delicious. At other times, though, like with oil and water, a mixture just fails to jive. A mixture is a concoction of several parts combined. In chemistry, it describes a composition made up of two or more substances that can be separated. When it comes to textiles, mixture describes fabric that consists of various yarn or materials. Note the difference between mix and mixture, though. Elements in a mix retain their unique parts even though they have been thrown together. In a mixture, elements are blended in such a way that they forfeit their individuality.
Vocabulary lists containing mixture
Chemistry - Introductory
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Structure and Properties of Matter - Middle School
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Matter and Energy
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Drake's three new albums are a mixture of musical styles.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
The mixture of two pianos and harmonium creates a timbre that somehow manages to seem both eerie and comfortable, and the silences that surround the sounds are as important as the sounds themselves.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
Add in the eggs and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.
From Salon • May 10, 2026
Researchers think sunlight interacting with this mixture created highly reactive chlorine that then helped destroy methane released during the eruption.
From Science Daily • May 10, 2026
For the dogs, a mixture of frozen caribou and salmon in small packages that were handy to put in the cooker.
From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
