Word of the Day

: November 4, 2024

amalgamate

verb uh-MAL-guh-mayt

What It Means

Amalgamate is a formal verb meaning "to unite (two or more things) into one thing."

// The band became famous for amalgamating different musical styles into a unique, signature sound.

See the entry >

amalgamate in Context

"Place the cornmeal in a bowl, and sift in the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Stir the mixture with a spoon or whisk to amalgamate." — Martha Rose Shulman, The New York Times, 13 Nov. 2023

Did You Know?

Today, one can amalgamate—that is, combine into one—any two (or more) things, such as hip-hop and country music, for example. The origins of amalgamate, however, have more to do with heavy metal. Amalgamate comes from the Medieval Latin verb amalgamāre, meaning "to combine (a metal) with mercury." It’s been part of English since the 1500s, its introduction closely trailing that of the noun amalgam (from the Medieval Latin amalgama), which in its oldest use means "a mixture of mercury and another metal." (In modern dentistry, amalgams combining liquid mercury with powders containing silver, tin, and other metals are often used for filling holes in teeth). Amalgamate can be used either technically, implying the creation of an alloy of mercury, or more generally for the formation of any compound or combined entity.