Definitions for: Alloy


[n] a mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each other when molten; "brass is an alloy of zinc and copper"
[n] the state of impairing the quality or reducing the value of something
[v] make an alloy of (metals)
[v] lower in value by increasing the base-metal content; of metals



Webster (1913) Definition: Al*loy", n. [OE. alai, OF. alei, F. aloyer, to alloy,
alier to ally. See Alloy, v. t.]
1. Any combination or compound of metals fused together; a
mixture of metals; for example, brass, which is an alloy
of copper and zinc. But when mercury is one of the metals,
the compound is called an amalgam.

2. The quality, or comparative purity, of gold or silver;
fineness.

3. A baser metal mixed with a finer.

Fine silver is silver without the mixture of any
baser metal. Alloy is baser metal mixed with it.
--Locke.

4. Admixture of anything which lessens the value or detracts
from; as, no happiness is without alloy. ``Pure English
without Latin alloy.'' --F. Harrison.


Al*loy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alloyed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Alloying.] [F. aloyer, OF. alier, allier, later allayer,
fr. L. aligare. See Alloy, n., Ally, v. t., and cf.
Allay.]
1. To reduce the purity of by mixing with a less valuable
substance; as, to alloy gold with silver or copper, or
silver with copper.

2. To mix, as metals, so as to form a compound.

3. To abate, impair, or debase by mixture; to allay; as, to
alloy pleasure with misfortunes.


Al*loy", v. t.
To form a metallic compound.

Gold and iron alloy with ease. --Ure.

Synonyms: admixture, debase, metal

See Also: Alnico, amalgam, babbitt, Babbitt metal, bearing metal, blend, Britannia metal, Carboloy, cheoplastic metal, coalesce, combine, commingle, conflate, copper-base alloy, dental amalgam, dental gold, devalue, Duralumin, electrum, flux, fuse, fusible metal, German silver, immix, impureness, impurity, Inconel, Invar, meld, merge, mix, mixture, nickel alloy, nickel silver, nickel-base alloy, oreide, oroide, pewter, pinchbeck, pot metal, primary solid solution, pyrophoric alloy, shot metal, solder, solid solution, steel, Stellite, sterling silver, tambac, tombac, tombak, type metal, white gold, white metal, Wood's alloy, Wood's metal

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