alloy Definition
al·loy (al′o̵i; also, and for v. usually, ə lo̵i′, a-)
noun
- the relative purity of gold or silver; fineness
- a substance that is a mixture, as by fusion, of two or more metals, or of a metal and something else
- Archaic a less valuable metal mixed with a more valuable one, often to give hardness
- something that lowers the value or quality of another thing when mixed with it
Etymology: ME alai < Anglo-Fr alei (OFr aloi) < aleier: see alloythe
transitive verb
- to make (a metal) less pure by mixing with a less valuable metal
- to mix (metals) to form an alloy
- to debase by mixing with something inferior
Etymology: Fr aloyer < OFr aloier, aleier < L alligare < ad-, to + ligare, to bind: see ligature
alloy Synonyms
alloy
n.
Common metal alloys include: steel, ferromanganese, ferrosilicon, cast iron, pewter, type metal, chromesteel, nichrome, vanadium-steel, tungsten-steel, ferro-magnetic manganese, chrome-vanadium-steel, titanium-steel, uranium-steel, austenitic steel, stainless steel, nonmagnetic steel, chromium steel, chrome-nickel steel, high tensile steel, cobalt-steel, tungsten-chromium-cobalt, carbide of tungsten-cobalt, Widia (trademark), Carboloy (trademark), finishing steel, high speed steel, high tungsten steel, low tungsten steel, structural steel, carbon steel, brass, bronze, Muntz metal, green gold, white gold, electrum, magnanin, iridium, Wood's metal, sterling silver, nickel-silver, magnalium, zinc-aluminum, aluminum-bronze, boron bronze, copper-aluminum, cupronickel, Duralumin (trademark), aluminum-manganese-copper, manganese-copper, tin-manganese, tin-copper, molybdenum-chromium-nickel, Monel metal (trademark), R-301, babbitt metal, bell metal, britannia metal, Dutch metal, gunmetal, osmiridium, pinchbeck, spiegeleisen.
alloy Synonyms
alloy
v.
To mix metals
mix, amalgamate, combine, compound, blend, adulterate, fuse. Metals are alloyed to produce qualities which include: hardness, brittleness, resistance to heat, resistance to acids, resistance to wear, resistance to stain, resistance to rust, light weight, tensile strength, malleability, lack of magnetism, conductivity, etc.
To devaluate
debase, devalue, admix; see adulterate.
alloy Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- copper: Brass Alloy An alloy of copper and zinc, although the term is loosely used to include all copper alloys.
- nickel: Constantan An alloy of 40 % nickel and 60 % copper, with a high volume resistivity and almost negligible temperature coefficient.
Converse of object
- braze: Vacuum Brazing Consultants Ltd. is a leading U.K. supplier of vacuum grades of brazing alloys.
- die-cast: Our Price: US$12.90 Equilibrium Candle Holder A modular design made from plated die-cast alloy that allows you to build up interesting sculptural.. .
Adjective modifier
- lead-free: The third CD-ROM will be released shortly covering other aspects of lead-free alloys and the changes necessary to meet the deadline of July 2006.
- ferrous: Modern steels and ferrous alloys have mostly been developed since the Industrial Revolution.
- ternary: In ternary alloys ( three elements ) three pairs of binary ( two elements ) alloys can also form.
- eutectic: Consider now what happens during solidification of a eutectic alloy.
- 18-inch: An electric sun roof, satellite navigation and 18-inch alloys are available as options if you desire.
- non-ferrous: Casting uses a range of casting technologies on ferrous and non-ferrous alloys.
Modifies a noun
- wheel: The alloy wheel rim also features a tire bead rim.
- rim: The alloy wheel rim also features a tire bead rim.
- tubing: The March, 1956 prices of materials are quoted as a guide some of these prices fluctuate, especially that of aluminum alloy tubing.
- steel: The materials from which fork arms are made will thus cover a range of alloy steels.
Noun used with modifier
- aluminum: Can be made from aluminum alloy, copper or steel.
- titanium: What is the advantage of making bicycles out of titanium alloys, rather than steel or aluminum alloys?
- copper: Circular coin, cast in copper alloy with a square central hole.
- magnesium: Ergo laptops are tougher Magnesium alloy is many times stronger than plastic, however smart the latter may appear.
- aluminum: Our pioneer product was the first aluminum alloy wheelchair ever made in Taiwan.
- copper-nickel: Bactrian coins of King Euthydemus ( 220 BC ) are known in a copper-nickel alloy.
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