alloy
/ˈælɔɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈælɔɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈa-ˌlȯi also ə-ˈlȯi/ (ame, mw) · /əˈlɔɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈlɔɪ/ (ame, ipa)
alloy — noun
1. a solid material created when two metals are melted and combined, or when a meta
a solid material created when two metals are melted and combined, or when a metal is melted together with a small amount of something else, to give the result useful qualities such as strength, lightness, or rust resistance.
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin that ancient toolmakers prized for its hardness.
alloy of [metal] and [metal]
The bicycle frame is made from a light aluminium alloy, so Omar can lift it with one hand.
noun + alloy: aluminium alloy
Engineers at the Tokyo plant tested a new steel alloy that resists rust in salty sea air.
Wedding rings are often shaped from a gold alloy because pure gold bends too easily.
The museum displayed Bronze Age tools cast from an alloy that workers had melted in clay pots.
- pure metal
describes a single, unmixed metallic element
文法句型
alloy of [metal] and [metal/substance]
用法筆記
Often takes 'of' to name the components: 'an alloy of X and Y'. Frequently appears as a compound noun naming the main metal: 'aluminium alloy', 'steel alloy', 'gold alloy'.
常見錯誤
alloy — verb
1. to melt one metal together with another metal or substance so that the result ha
to melt one metal together with another metal or substance so that the result has new useful qualities, such as being harder, lighter, or cheaper to produce.
Workers at the foundry alloy copper with zinc to produce the brass used for door handles.
alloy [metal] with [metal]
Iron is usually alloyed with a small amount of carbon to make steel for buildings and bridges.
passive: be alloyed with
Ancient smiths in China alloyed tin with copper to cast strong cooking vessels.
The jeweller alloys pure gold with silver so that her rings will not bend on the finger.
- blend
wider word; works for any materials, not only metals
- fuse
stresses melting two things into one mass
- amalgamate
technical; often used when mercury is one of the metals
文法句型
alloy [metal] with [metal]
be alloyed with
用法筆記
Frequently passive ('iron is alloyed with carbon'). The preposition is 'with', and the subject is usually a person, foundry, or industry rather than the metal itself.
常見錯誤
2. to add something to a feeling, quality, or pleasure that takes away part of its
to add something to a feeling, quality, or pleasure that takes away part of its goodness — for example, a moment of joy that is alloyed with worry, or a victory alloyed with regret.
Helena's pride at her son's award was alloyed with sadness that his father could not see it.
passive: be alloyed with [feeling]
The team's joy at winning the cup was alloyed with grief over their injured captain.
passive: joy + alloyed with + grief
A note of doubt alloyed the otherwise warm welcome that the villagers gave the new doctor.
Quinn felt that fame had alloyed his early love of writing with a constant fear of bad reviews.
文法句型
alloy [feeling/quality] with [feeling/quality]
be alloyed with
用法筆記
Literary and formal — most often appears in the passive 'be alloyed with' followed by an unwelcome feeling (sadness, regret, fear, doubt). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 takes metals; sense 2 takes abstract nouns such as joy, pride, pleasure.