agglomerate
agglomerate — verb
- agglomeratepresent simple I / you / we / they
- agglomerateshe / she / it
- agglomeratedpast simple
- agglomerating-ing form
1. to stick or come together so that separate pieces form a single larger mass, eit
to stick or come together so that separate pieces form a single larger mass, either naturally or through an outside process such as heat, pressure, or a binding agent
Shirin stirred the flour and water until it began to agglomerate into sticky balls.
intransitive: agglomerate into [mass]
The factory machine uses heat and pressure to agglomerate tiny plastic beads into larger pellets.
transitive: agglomerate [object] into [result]
In Ravindra's laboratory, the particles agglomerated rapidly once the salt solution was added.
Wind and rain can agglomerate loose soil into hard clumps on the farmland.
During the 2018 eruption, volcanic ash agglomerated into dense chunks that rained on Tariro's village.
- coalesce
more about merging into a unified whole where individual parts disappear
- conglomerate
very similar, but emphasises combining different kinds of things
- clump
less formal; suggests a heavy or shapeless mass, especially of soft material
- disintegrate
break apart into pieces
- disperse
scatter in different directions
文法句型
agglomerate + into + noun phrase
agglomerate + direct object + into + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used in scientific or technical contexts describing physical processes. The object of the transitive use is the material being gathered, and the result is introduced by 'into'.
常見錯誤
2. to join several businesses or organisations together to form one larger company,
to join several businesses or organisations together to form one larger company, usually through mergers or acquisitions
The board voted to agglomerate the two family businesses into a single corporation.
transitive: agglomerate [companies] into [single entity]
Many small tech firms agglomerated under one parent company to share research costs.
intransitive with 'under': agglomerate under [parent]
The Hyun Group plans to agglomerate several local banks into a regional financial centre.
Over the past decade, the publishing industry has agglomerated into just three major players.
- merge
far more common in business English; can describe any joining of entities
- consolidate
emphasises making something stronger by combining
- amalgamate
similar register; common in British business English
文法句型
agglomerate + direct object + into + noun phrase
agglomerate + into + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is specific to corporate and financial contexts. In everyday business English, 'merge' or 'consolidate' is far more common.
常見錯誤
agglomerate — noun
- agglomeratesingular
- agglomeratesplural
1. a type of rock made up of broken volcanic fragments such as lava pieces, ash, an
a type of rock made up of broken volcanic fragments such as lava pieces, ash, and pumice that have become bonded together over time
The cliff face was made of dark agglomerate formed from ancient volcanic eruptions.
uncountable use: mass noun describing rock type
Geologists found layers of agglomerate mixed with ash and pumice along the mountainside.
This sample of agglomerate contains fragments of lava that fused together millions of years ago.
The crew blasted through a thick deposit of agglomerate before laying the road.
- volcanic breccia
a related rock type, but breccia has sharper, angular fragments
- tuff
volcanic rock made of finer ash particles rather than large fragments
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in geology and volcanology. A more common alternative is 'volcanic breccia' for angular fragments, though agglomerate typically contains rounded or semi-rounded pieces.
常見錯誤
2. a group of different items or parts that have been brought together, often in a
a group of different items or parts that have been brought together, often in a somewhat messy or unorganised way
The old shed contained a strange agglomerate of tools, toys, and broken furniture.
pattern: agglomerate of [varied items]
Manuela's essay was an agglomerate of ideas from different sources without a clear argument.
The museum display is an agglomerate of everyday objects from the early twentieth century.
Hugo's speech was a confusing agglomerate of facts, opinions, and personal stories.
- collection
neutral; does not imply messiness
- jumble
informal; emphasises disorder
- assortment
neutral; emphasises variety
- conglomeration
very similar but slightly more common
文法句型
agglomerate + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
More formal and less common than 'collection', 'jumble', or 'mixture'. It often carries a slightly negative tone, implying lack of order or quality.
常見錯誤
agglomerate — adjective
- agglomeratepositive
- more agglomeratecomparative
- most agglomeratesuperlative
1. gathered or formed into a single tight mass or cluster, often with the individua
gathered or formed into a single tight mass or cluster, often with the individual parts still visible but closely packed together
The agglomerate crystals formed a single dense structure at the bottom of the flask.
modifies noun describing physical form
Under the microscope, the agglomerate cells looked like a cluster of tiny grapes.
The artist used agglomerate pieces of coloured glass to create a mosaic pattern.
In the river delta, agglomerate sediments built up into small islands over centuries.
- aggregate
more common in general scientific use
- clustered
simpler and more natural in most contexts
- conglomerate
similar, but implies mixed types of things
用法筆記
Rarely used in everyday speech. In scientific writing, 'aggregate' is a more common alternative. The adjective form is most often found in geology and materials science.