agglomerate Hear it!

agglomerate Definition

ag·glom·er·ate (ə gläm′ər āt′; for adj. & n., -ər it)

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·at′ed, -·at′·ing

to gather into a cluster, mass, or ball

Etymology: < L agglomeratus, pp. of agglomerare < ad-, to + glomerare, to form into a ball < IE base *glem-, var. of *gel-, form a ball, sphere, hence akin to climb, clench

adjective

gathered into a mass or ball; clustered

noun

  1. a jumbled heap, mass, etc.
  2. Geol. a mass of fragments of volcanic rock fused by heat

agglomerate Related Forms
ag·glom′·era′·tive (-āt′iv, -ə tiv) adjective
agglomerate Usage Examples

Object

  • industry: We find that agglomerated industries in the UK are predominantly low-tech.
  • population: It has agglomerated population, centralized the means of production, and has concentrated property in a few hands.

Adjective modifier

  • large: This corresponds to the deformation of large agglomerates as they pass through the die land.

Modifies a noun

  • fracture: The force transmission pattern is also central to the problem of agglomerate impact fracture.