alloy Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each other when molten
metal.
- brass is an alloy of zinc and copper
noun the state of impairing the quality or reducing the value of something
admixture.
verb lower in value by increasing the base-metal content
debase.
verb make an alloy of

OE. alai, OF. alei, F. aloyer, to alloy, alier to ally. See Alloy, v. t.

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.
The quality, or comparative purity, of gold or silver; fineness.
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.
Admixture of anything which lessens the value or detracts from; as, no happiness is without alloy. "Pure English without Latin alloy." F. Harrison.

F. aloyer, OF. alier, allier, later allayer, fr. L. aligare. See Alloy, n., Ally, v.t., and cf. Allay.

imperfect & past participle Alloyed present participle & verbal noun Alloying

To reduce the purity of by mixing with a less valuable substance; as, to alloy gold with silver or copper, or silver with copper.
To mix, as metals, so as to form a compound.
To abate, impair, or debase by mixture; to allay; as, to alloy pleasure with misfortunes.