agglomeration

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /əˌglɑːmɝˈeɪʃən/ UK /əˌɡlɒməˈreɪʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #118505

Meanings

1

noun
a mass or collection of different things gathered or clustered together

The attic contained an untidy agglomeration of trunks, tools, and broken furniture.
2

noun
the process of gathering or sticking together into a mass

Moisture caused the agglomeration of the powder into hard lumps.
3

noun
a continuously built-up urban area formed from a city and its surrounding settlements

The rail network serves the entire urban agglomeration rather than the central city alone.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a mass or collection of... aggregation cluster conglomeration

2 noun · the process of gathering or... aggregation accumulation clustering

3 noun · a continuously built-up... conurbationmetropolitan area

Opposites

dispersion separation

Word family

Derived forms agglomerationaldeagglomerationdisagglomeration

Related forms agglomerate conglomerate cluster

Etymology

From Latin agglomeratio, from agglomerare ("to form into a ball or gather into a mass"), combining ad- ("to") with glomus, genitive glomeris ("ball of yarn"). The urban sense extends the image to adjoining settlements joined into one mass.

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# agglomeration

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /əˌglɑːmɝˈeɪʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /əˌɡlɒməˈreɪʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 118505

## Meanings
1. a mass or collection of different things gathered or clustered together
2. the process of gathering or sticking together into a mass
3. a continuously built-up urban area formed from a city and its surrounding settlements

## Examples
- The attic contained an untidy agglomeration of trunks, tools, and broken furniture.
- Moisture caused the agglomeration of the powder into hard lumps.
- The rail network serves the entire urban agglomeration rather than the central city alone.

## Synonyms
- aggregation
- cluster
- accumulation
- conglomeration

## Antonyms
- dispersion
- separation

## Derived Forms
- agglomerational
- deagglomeration
- disagglomeration

## Related Forms
- agglomerate
- conglomerate
- cluster

## Etymology
From Latin agglomeratio, from agglomerare ("to form into a ball or gather into a mass"), combining ad- ("to") with glomus, genitive glomeris ("ball of yarn"). The urban sense extends the image to adjoining settlements joined into one mass.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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