aggregate

[ adjective noun ag-ri-git, -geyt; verb ag-ri-geyt ]

adjective

1. formed by the conjunction or collection of particulars into a whole mass or sum; total; combined:

   the aggregate amount of indebtedness.

   Synonyms: whole, complete

2. Botany.
   1. (of a flower) formed of florets collected in a dense cluster but not cohering, as the daisy.
   2. (of a fruit) composed of a cluster of carpels belonging to the same flower, as the raspberry.
3. Geology. (of a rock) consisting of a mixture of minerals separable by mechanical means.

noun

1. a sum, mass, or assemblage of particulars; a total or gross amount:

   the aggregate of all past experience.

2. a cluster of soil particles: an aggregate larger than 250 micrometers in diameter, as the size of a small crumb, is technically regarded as a macroaggregate.
3. any of various loose, particulate materials, as sand, gravel, or pebbles, added to a cementing agent to make concrete, plaster, etc.
4. Mathematics. set ( def 92 ).

verb (used with object)

, ag·gre·gat·ed, ag·gre·gat·ing.

1. to bring together; collect into one sum, mass, or body.

   Synonyms: gather, accumulate, amass, assemble

2. to amount to (the number of ):

   The guns captured will aggregate five or six hundred.

verb (used without object)

, ag·gre·gat·ed, ag·gre·gat·ing.

1. to combine and form a collection or mass.

aggregate

/ ˈæɡrɪˌɡeɪtɪv /

adjective

1. formed of separate units collected into a whole; collective; corporate
2. (of fruits and flowers) composed of a dense cluster of carpels or florets

noun

1. a sum or assemblage of many separate units; sum total
2. geology a rock, such as granite, consisting of a mixture of minerals
3. the sand and stone mixed with cement and water to make concrete
4. a group of closely related biotypes produced by apomixis, such as brambles, which are the Rubus fruticosus aggregate
5. in the aggregate
   taken as a whole

verb

1. to combine or be combined into a body, etc
2. tr to amount to (a number)

Derived Forms

• aggregative, adjective
• ˈaggregately, adverb

Other Words From

• ag·gre·ga·ble [ag, -ri-g, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• ag·gre·gate·ly adjective
• ag·gre·gate·ness noun
• ag·gre·ga·to·ry [ag, -ri-g, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• hy·per·ag·gre·gate verb hyperaggregated hyperaggregating
• re·ag·gre·gate verb reaggregated reaggregating
• sub·ag·gre·gate adjective noun
• sub·ag·gre·gate·ly adverb
• un·ag·gre·gat·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aggregate¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin aggregātus (past participle of aggregāre ), equivalent to ag- ag- + greg- (stem of grex “flock”) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of aggregate¹

C16: from Latin aggregāre to add to a flock or herd, attach (oneself) to, from grex flock

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in the aggregate, taken or considered as a whole:

   In the aggregate, our losses have been relatively small.

Example Sentences

An additional component ensures that the individual peptide molecules aggregate into nanofibers once they are inside the tumor cells.

From Science Daily

"The process is called sintering, which aggregates fine particles together into a more solid state. It is similar to powder metallurgy in the manufacturing of ceramics," continues Tsumori.

From Science Daily

The presence of IL-38 in these aggregates is enhanced close to the skin's surface exposed to atmospheric oxygen.

From Science Daily

These accumulate and can form aggregates inside the cell.

From Science Daily

When Biden’s boosters were confronted with the polling from Gallup that most Americans felt negative weeks out from the election about the economy, their response was to point to aggregate data.

From Salon