ENGLISH
REFERENCE

aggregate

n. · adj. · v.
US //ˈæɡɹəɡeɪt// ag·gre·gate
  1. 1 a total sum (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic

    a total amount formed by adding many different parts or people together.

    a whole formed by the combination of several separate elements or particulars. Often used in economics and social sciences to discuss collective data.

    Example

    The report looks at the aggregate of all the small businesses in the city.

    Example

    The researcher analyzed the data in the aggregate rather than focusing on individual case studies to identify broader social trends.
  2. 2 sports score (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate British English Sport

    the total score of two or more games played between the same teams.

    the combined score of a series of matches, typically a home-and-away pair in football, used to determine the winner of a round.

    Example

    The team won 4-3 on aggregate after two matches.

    Example

    Despite losing the second leg of the semi-final, the club progressed to the final by winning five-four on aggregate.
    • combined score
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  1. 3 construction material (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    materials like sand, gravel, or crushed stone used to make concrete.

    granular material such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone used in construction and as a primary component of concrete and asphalt.

    Example

    The workers mixed the cement with a coarse aggregate to make it stronger.

    Example

    The durability of the pavement depends heavily on the quality and size distribution of the mineral aggregate used in the mix.
  2. 4 combined or total (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Math

    describing a total amount that has been added up from different parts.

    formed by the collection of units or particles into a body, mass, or amount. Frequently modifies nouns like 'demand' or 'supply' in economic contexts.

    Example

    The aggregate wealth of the country has grown over the last decade.

    Example

    Economists are concerned that a sharp drop in aggregate demand could lead to a prolonged recession across the eurozone.
  3. 5 to collect together (v.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Technical Computing

    to gather different pieces of information or items into one group.

    to collect or gather into a mass or whole. In computing, it refers to the process of compiling data from multiple sources.

    Example

    The website aggregates news stories from many different newspapers.

    Example

    The software is designed to aggregate user feedback from various social media platforms into a single dashboard for analysis.
Etymology 1

From Middle English aggregat(e) (“a sum, unit, complex, aggregate”), borrowed from New Latin aggregātum (“an aggregate”), substantivized from the nominative neuter singular of aggregātus, the perfect passive participle of aggregō (“to flock together”), from ad- (“at, to, toward”)) + gregō (“to flock or group”), from grex (“flock”, greg- in compounds) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). See also egregious and gregarious.

Etymology 2

From Middle English aggregat(e) (“aggregated”, used as the past participle of aggregaten), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.

Etymology 3

From Middle English aggregaten (“to aggregate”), from its earlier borrowed past participle aggregat(e) + -en (verb-forming suffix), from Latin aggregātus, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.

Word family

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