Amalgam: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
amalgam
[ ษหmรฆlษกษm ]
mixture, blend
An amalgam is a mixture or blend of various elements. In a scientific context, it often refers to a combination of metals, particularly in medicine and dentistry, where dental amalgam is used as a filling material. The term can also refer to a mixture of different ideas, cultures, or styles. Amalgams can be found in various disciplines, including chemistry, sociology, and art.
Synonyms
blend, combination, composite, mixture
Examples of usage
- The dentist used dental amalgam for the filling.
- The festival was an amalgam of cultures and traditions.
- This painting is an amalgam of different artistic styles.
Translations
Translations of the word "amalgam" in other languages:
๐ต๐น amalgama
๐ฎ๐ณ เคธเคเคฏเฅเคเฅเคคเคคเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช Amalgam
๐ฎ๐ฉ amalgam
๐บ๐ฆ ะฐะผะฐะปัะณะฐะผะฐ
๐ต๐ฑ amalgame
๐ฏ๐ต ใขใใซใฌใ
๐ซ๐ท amalgamme
๐ช๐ธ amalgama
๐น๐ท amalgam
๐ฐ๐ท ์๋ง๊ฐ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฃู ูุบู
๐จ๐ฟ amalgam
๐ธ๐ฐ amalgam
๐จ๐ณ ๆฑๅ้
๐ธ๐ฎ amalgam
๐ฎ๐ธ amalgame
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะฐะผะฐะปะณะฐะผะฐ
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ amalqam
๐ฒ๐ฝ amalgama
Etymology
The word 'amalgam' originates from the Middle English term 'amalgamen', which itself comes from the earlier Latin word 'amalgama', meaning 'to soft metal'. This Latin term is derived from the Greek word 'amalagma', which means 'to soften' or 'to make soft'. Historically, amalgams were primarily associated with the blending of metals, particularly mercury with silver. Their use dates back to ancient civilizations, where they were utilized for various purposes, including coin production and medicinal applications. Over time, the definition broadened to encompass mixtures in various contexts, including cultural and artistic ones. Today, 'amalgam' is used not only in metallurgy but also in sociology and art to denote mixtures that arise from the fusion of different elements.