amalgam
- 01 C1 Advanced
a mixture or combination of different things.
a combination or blend of diverse elements, ideas, or factors into a single whole.
Simple“The new building is a strange amalgam of modern glass and traditional stone.”
In context“The film's soundtrack is a fascinating amalgam of traditional folk melodies and experimental electronic textures.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'of'.
Teacher's tipIn academic writing, this word suggests a more permanent or integrated blending than 'mixture'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
a mixture of mercury and other metals used by dentists to fill holes in teeth.
an alloy of mercury with another metal or metals, specifically used as a restorative material in dentistry.
Simple“The dentist replaced my old silver amalgam filling with a white one.”
In context“While composite resins are increasingly popular, dental amalgam remains a durable and cost-effective choice for posterior restorations.”
UsageUsually uncountable when referring to the material itself.
Teacher's tipMost learners will only encounter this in a medical or scientific context.
“Morita is the second Japanese player to represent Hull and his amalgam of experience and quality in a key position promise to prove invaluable.”
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.