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amalgam

Pronunciation: /əˈmæl.ɡəm/

The English word “amalgam” has 5 meanings listed here.

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

  1. To amalgamate (something) with a thing.

Etymology

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.

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