agglomerate

[ verb uh-glom-uh-reyt; adjective, noun uh-glom-er-it, -uh-reyt ]
/ verb əˈglɒm əˌreɪt; adjective, noun əˈglɒm ər ɪt, -əˌreɪt /

verb (used with or without object), ag·glom·er·at·ed, ag·glom·er·at·ing.

to collect or gather into a cluster or mass.

adjective

gathered together into a cluster or mass.
Botany. crowded into a dense cluster, but not cohering.

noun

a mass of things clustered together.
rock composed of rounded or angular volcanic fragments.

Origin of agglomerate

1675–85; < Latin agglomerātus (past participle of agglomerāre), equivalent to ag- ag- + glomer- (stem of glomus ball of yarn) + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM agglomerate

ag·glom·er·a·tive [uh-glom-uh-rey-tiv, -er-uh-tiv] /əˈglɒm əˌreɪ tɪv, -ər ə tɪv/, adjective ag·glom·er·a·tor, noun non·ag·glom·er·a·tive, adjective un·ag·glom·er·a·tive, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for agglomerate

British Dictionary definitions for agglomerate

agglomerate

verb (əˈɡlɒməˌreɪt)

to form or be formed into a mass or cluster; collect

noun (əˈɡlɒmərɪt, -ˌreɪt)

a confused mass
a rock consisting of angular fragments of volcanic lava Compare conglomerate (def. 2)

adjective (əˈɡlɒmərɪt, -ˌreɪt)

formed into a mass

Derived forms of agglomerate

agglomeration, noun agglomerative, adjective

Word Origin for agglomerate

C17: from Latin agglomerāre, from glomerāre to wind into a ball, from glomus ball, mass