conglomerate

[ noun, adjective kuhn-glom-er-it, kuhng-; verb kuhn-glom-uh-reyt, kuhng- ]
See synonyms for: conglomerateconglomeratedconglomerating on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. anything composed of heterogeneous materials or elements.

  2. a corporation consisting of a number of subsidiary companies or divisions in a variety of unrelated industries, usually as a result of merger or acquisition.

  1. Geology. a rock consisting of pebbles or the like embedded in a finer cementing material; consolidated gravel.

adjective
  1. gathered into a rounded mass; consisting of parts so gathered; clustered.

  2. consisting of heterogeneous parts or elements.

  1. of or relating to a corporate conglomerate.

  2. Geology. of the nature of a conglomerate.

verb (used with object),con·glom·er·at·ed, con·glom·er·at·ing.
  1. to bring together into a cohering mass.

  2. to gather into a ball or rounded mass.

verb (used without object),con·glom·er·at·ed, con·glom·er·at·ing.
  1. to collect or cluster together.

  2. (of a company) to become part of or merge with a conglomerate.

Origin of conglomerate

1
1565–75; <Latin conglomerātus (past participle of conglomerāre), equivalent to con-con- + glomer- (stem of glomus) ball of yarn + -ātus-ate1

Other words from conglomerate

  • con·glom·er·at·ic [kuhn-glom-uh-rat-ik, kuhng-], /kənˌglɒm əˈræt ɪk, kəŋ-/, con·glom·er·it·ic [kuhn-glom-uh-rit-ik, kuhng-], /kənˌglɒm əˈrɪt ɪk, kəŋ-/, adjective
  • de·con·glom·er·ate, verb, de·con·glom·er·at·ed, de·con·glom·er·at·ing.
  • min·i·con·glom·er·ate, noun
  • pseu·do·con·glom·er·ate, adjective
  • su·per·con·glom·er·ate, noun
  • un·con·glom·er·at·ed, adjective

Words Nearby conglomerate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use conglomerate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for conglomerate

conglomerate

noun(kənˈɡlɒmərɪt)
  1. a thing composed of heterogeneous elements; mass

  2. any coarse-grained sedimentary rock consisting of rounded fragments of rock embedded in a finer matrix: Compare agglomerate (def. 3)

  1. a large corporation consisting of a group of companies dealing in widely diversified goods, services, etc

verb(kənˈɡlɒməˌreɪt)
  1. to form into a cluster or mass

adjective(kənˈɡlɒmərɪt)
  1. made up of heterogeneous elements; massed

  2. (of sedimentary rocks) consisting of rounded fragments within a finer matrix

Origin of conglomerate

1
C16: from Latin conglomerāre to roll up, from glomerāre to wind into a ball, from glomus ball of thread

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for conglomerate

conglomerate

[ kən-glŏmə-rāt′ ]


  1. A coarse-grained sedimentary rock consisting of round rock fragments cemented together by hardened silt, clay, calcium carbonate, or a similar material. The fragments (known as clasts) have a diameter of at least 2 mm (0.08 inches), vary in composition and origin, and may include pebbles, cobbles, boulders, or fossilized seashells. Conglomerates often form through the transportation and deposition of sediments by streams, alluvial fans, and glaciers.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for conglomerate

conglomerate

[ (kuhn-glom-uhr-uht) ]


A corporation with diversified holdings that are acquired through mergers and acquisitions but that are not necessarily related.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.