amalgam

Meaning

Noun

1. An alloy containing mercury.
2. A combination of different things.
3. One of the ingredients in an alloy.
4. An alloy of mercury used to fill tooth cavities.

Verb

To amalgamate (something) with a thing.

Synonyms

mixture

blend

intermixture

combination

dental amalgam

alloy

mix

composite

composition

compound

concoction

medley

melange

portmanteau

premix

shuffle

matchup

admixture

alloy of mercury

aggregate

aggregation

amalgamation

blending

collage

combining

Hyphenated as

a‧mal‧gam

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈmæl.ɡəm/

Etymology

Cognate with French: amalgamer

In summary

From Medieval Latin amalgama (“mercury alloy”), from Arabic اَلْمَلْغَم (al-malḡam, “emollient poultice or unguent for sores”), from Ancient Greek μάλαγμα (málagma, “emollient; malleable material”), from μαλάσσω (malássō, “to soften”), from μαλακός (malakós, “soft”). Doublet of malagma. For the verb, compare French amalgamer.