a substance composed of two or more metals, or of a metal or metals with a nonmetal, intimately mixed, as by fusion or electrodeposition.
2.
a less costly metal mixed with a more valuable one.
3.
standard; quality; fineness.
4.
admixture, as of good with evil.
5.
anything added that serves to reduce quality or purity.
–verb (used with object)
6.
to mix (metals or metal with nonmetal) so as to form an alloy.
7.
to reduce in value by an admixture of a less costly metal.
8.
to debase, impair, or reduce by admixture; adulterate.
[Origin: 1590–1600; < MF aloi, OF alei, n. deriv. of aleier to combine < L alligāre to bind up, equiv. to al-al-+ ligāre to bind (see ally, ligament); r. earlier allay, ME < AF allai]
A homogeneous mixture or solid solution of two or more metals, the atoms of one replacing or occupying interstitial positions between the atoms of the other: Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper.
A mixture; an amalgam: "Television news has . . . always been an alloy of journalism and show business"(Bill Moyers).
The relative degree of mixture with a base metal; fineness.
To combine; mix: idealism that was alloyed with political skill.
To debase by the addition of an inferior element.
[Alteration (influenced by French aloi) of obsolete allay, from Middle English alay, from Old North French allai, from allayer, to alloy, from Latin alligāre, to bind : ad-, ad- + ligāre, to bind; see leig- in Indo-European roots.]
1596, from Anglo-Fr. alai, from O.Fr. aleier "mix with a baser metal," from L. alligare, compound of ad- "to" + ligare "to bind" (see ligament); hence "bind one thing to another."
a mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each other when molten; "brass is an alloy of zinc and copper"
2.
the state of impairing the quality or reducing the value of something [syn: admixture]
verb
1.
lower in value by increasing the base-metal content [syn: debase]
alloyAudio Help (āl'oi') Pronunciation Key
A metallic substance made by mixing and fusing two or more metals, or a metal and a nonmetal, to obtain desirable qualities such as hardness, lightness, and strength. Brass, bronze, and steel are all alloys.
A material made of two or more metals, or of a metal and another material. For example, brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. Alloys often have unexpected characteristics. In the examples given above, brass is stronger than either copper or zinc, and steel is stronger than either iron or carbon.
A homogeneous mixture or solid solution of two or more metals, the atoms of one replacing or occupying interstitial positions between the atoms of the other.
Main Entry: al·loy Pronunciation: 'al-"oi, &-'loi Function: noun 1: the degree of mixture with base metals 2: a
substance composed of two or more metals or of a metal and a nonmetal intimately united usually by being fused together and dissolving in each other when molten; also: the state of
union of the components —al·loy/&-'loi, 'al-"oi/transitive verb
Al*loy"\, n. [OE. alai, OF. alei, F. aloyer, to alloy, alier to ally. See Alloy, v. t.]1. 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. 2. The quality, or comparative purity, of gold or silver; fineness. 3. 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. 4. Admixture of anything which lessens the value or detracts from; as, no happiness is without alloy. "Pure English without Latin alloy." --F. Harrison.
Al*loy"\, n. [OE. alai, OF. alei, F. aloyer, to alloy, alier to ally. See Alloy, v. t.]1. 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. 2. The quality, or comparative purity, of gold or silver; fineness. 3. 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. 4. Admixture of anything which lessens the value or detracts from; as, no happiness is without alloy. "Pure English without Latin alloy." --F. Harrison.
Al*loy"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alloyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Alloying.] [F. aloyer, OF. alier, allier, later allayer, fr. L. aligare. See Alloy, n., Ally, v. t., and cf. Allay.]1. To reduce the purity of by mixing with a less valuable substance; as, to alloy gold with silver or copper, or silver with copper. 2. To mix, as metals, so as to form a compound. 3. To abate, impair, or debase by mixture; to allay; as, to alloy pleasure with misfortunes.
Al*loy"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alloyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Alloying.] [F. aloyer, OF. alier, allier, later allayer, fr. L. aligare. See Alloy, n., Ally, v. t., and cf. Allay.]1. To reduce the purity of by mixing with a less valuable substance; as, to alloy gold with silver or copper, or silver with copper. 2. To mix, as metals, so as to form a compound. 3. To abate, impair, or debase by mixture; to allay; as, to alloy pleasure with misfortunes.
Al*ly"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allied; p. pr. & vb. n. Allying.] [OE. alien, OF. alier, F. alier, fr. L. alligare to bind to; ad + ligare to bind. Cf. Alligate, Alloy, Allay, Ligament.]1. To unite, or form a connection between, as between families by marriage, or between princes and states by treaty, league, or confederacy; -- often followed by to or with. O chief! in blood, and now in arms allied. --Pope. 2. To connect or form a relation between by similitude, resemblance, friendship, or love. These three did love each other dearly well, And with so firm affection were allied. --Spenser. The virtue nearest to our vice allied. --Pope. Note: Ally is generally used in the passive form or reflexively.
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Audio Help [n. al-oi, uh-loi; v. uh-loi] Pronunciation Key 
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