al·loy ( l oi ,  -loi)n.1. A homogeneous mixture or solid solution of two or more metals, the atoms of one replacing or occupying interstitial positions between the atoms of the other: Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper. 2. A mixture; an amalgam: "Television news has . . . always been an alloy of journalism and show business" Bill Moyers. 3. The relative degree of mixture with a base metal; fineness. 4. Something added that lowers value or purity. tr.v. (-loi, loi) al·loyed, al·loy·ing, al·loys 1. To combine (metals) to form an alloy. 2. To combine; mix: idealism that was alloyed with political skill. 3. To debase by the addition of an inferior element.
[Alteration (influenced by French aloi) of obsolete allay, from Middle English alay, from Old North French allai, from allayer, to alloy, from Latin allig re, to bind : ad-, ad- + ligre, to bind; see leig- in Indo-European roots.] |
alloy Noun a mixture of two or more metals Verb to mix metals in order to obtain a substance with a desired property [Latin alligare to bind]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. |  alloy - a mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each other when molten; "brass is an alloy of zinc and copper"mixture - (chemistry) a substance consisting of two or more substances mixed together (not in fixed proportions and not with chemical bonding) heavy metal - a metal of relatively high density (specific gravity greater than about 5) or of high relative atomic weight (especially one that is poisonous like mercury or lead) oreide, oroide - alloy of copper and tin and zinc; used in imitation gold jewelry Alnico - trade name for an alloy used to make high-energy permanent magnets; contains aluminum and iron and nickel plus cobalt or copper or titanium amalgam, dental amalgam - an alloy of mercury with another metal (usually silver) used by dentists to fill cavities in teeth; except for iron and platinum all metals dissolve in mercury and chemists refer to the resulting mercury mixtures as amalgams fusible metal - an alloy with a low melting point and used as solder and in safety plugs and sprinkler fuses pewter - any of various alloys of tin with small amounts of other metals (especially lead) pinchbeck - an alloy of copper and zinc that is used in cheap jewelry to imitate gold pot metal - an alloy of copper and lead used especially for making large pots solder - an alloy (usually of lead and tin) used when melted to join two metal surfaces white gold - a pale alloy of gold usually with platinum or nickel or palladium type metal - an alloy of tin and lead and antimony used to make printing type babbitt, Babbitt metal - an alloy of tin with some copper and antimony; a lining for bearings that reduces friction Carboloy - an alloy based on tungsten with cobalt or nickel as a binder; used in making metal-cutting tools steel - an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range cheoplastic metal - any alloy that fuses at low temperatures and can be used molding artificial teeth Inconel - a nickel-base alloy with chromium and iron; used in gas-turbine blades Invar - an alloy of iron and nickel having a low coefficient of thermal expansion; used in tuning forks and measuring tapes and other instruments pyrophoric alloy - an alloy that emits sparks when struck or scratched with steel; used in lighter flints shot metal - an alloy that is 98% lead and 2% arsenic; used in making small shot primary solid solution, solid solution - a homogeneous solid that can exist over a range of component chemicals; a constituent of alloys that is formed when atoms of an element are incorporated into the crystals of a metal Stellite - a very hard alloy of cobalt and chromium with cobalt as the principal ingredient; used to make cutting tools and for surfaces subject to heavy wear tambac, tombac, tombak - an alloy of copper and zinc (and sometimes arsenic) used to imitate gold in cheap jewelry and for gilding Wood's alloy, Wood's metal - a fusible alloy that is half bismuth plus lead, tin, and cadmium; melts at about 160 degrees Fahrenheit | | 2. | alloy - the state of impairing the quality or reducing the value of something | | Verb | 1. | alloy - lower in value by increasing the base-metal contentdevalue - lower the value or quality of; "The tear devalues the painting" | | 2. | alloy - make an alloy ofchemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions coalesce, conflate, fuse, immix, mix, merge, commingle, blend, meld, flux, combine - mix together different elements; "The colors blend well" |
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