amalgam
n.n. a mixture of different things, especially metals, that is hard and strong. It is often used to describe a combination of different ideas or groups.
n. a solid mixture of two or more metals, or a combination of different elements or ideas. Often used in technical contexts to describe alloys or in social contexts to describe diverse groups.
The dentist used a silver amalgam to fill the tooth.
The new government is an amalgam of different political parties working together to pass the new law.
The sculpture is a masterful amalgam of classical marble and modern steel, representing a bridge between ancient traditions and contemporary art.
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.