Alloy

Definition

Alloy refers to a substance composed of two or more metals, or of a metal or metals with a non-metal, intimately mixed, as by fusion or electrodeposition.

Parts of Speech

• Noun: Alloy
• Verb: Alloy, Alloying

IPA Pronunciation and Respelling

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈælɔɪ/
• Respelling: AL-oy

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈælɔɪ/
• Respelling: AL-oy

Etymology

The term "alloy" comes from the Old French word "aloi" (meaning a mixture of gold or silver with base metals) and perhaps ultimately from Latin "alligare" meaning "to bind".

Derivatives

• Alloyed: Mixed or combined with another metal.
• Alloying: The action of alloying metals.
• Non-alloyed: Not combined or mixed with other metals.
• De-alloying: The selective removal of one element from an alloy.
• Super-alloy: A metal that resists oxidation and deformation.

Synonyms

• Composite
• Blend
• Mixture

Antonyms

• Pure
• Unalloyed
• Unmixed

Usage

Example: "Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin."

Related Terms

• Metallurgy: The branch of science and technology concerned with the properties of metals and their production and purification.
• Composite material: Material made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties.
• Ferrous: Containing or derived from iron.

Detailed Definition

Noun

• A substance composed of two or more metals or of a metal and a non-metal:
• Example: "Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper."
• The degree of mixture with base metal; fineness:
• Example: "The gold was 14 carats, an indication of the alloy's purity."

Verb

• To mix (metals) to make an alloy:
• Example: "The company alloys zinc and copper to produce brass."
• To reduce in value by an admixture of a less costly metal:
• Example: "They alloyed the gold with silver."

‍

"Alloy" in its essence represents a mixture, often enhancing the properties of the constituent materials. In many industries, particularly metallurgy, alloys are vital for creating materials with desired properties that can't be achieved with pure metals alone.