Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

conglomerate

 - 11 dictionary results

con⋅glom⋅er⋅ate

  [n., adj. kuhn-glom-er-it, kuhng-; v. kuhn-glom-uh-reyt, kuhng-] noun, adjective, verb, -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.
Use conglomerate in a Sentence
–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.
3. Geology. a rock consisting of pebbles or the like embedded in a finer cementing material; consolidated gravel.
–adjective
4. gathered into a rounded mass; consisting of parts so gathered; clustered.
5. consisting of heterogeneous parts or elements.
6. of or pertaining to a corporate conglomerate.
7. Geology. of the nature of a conglomerate.
–verb (used with object)
8. to bring together into a cohering mass.
9. to gather into a ball or rounded mass.
–verb (used without object)
10. to collect or cluster together.
11. (of a company) to become part of or merge with a conglomerate.
Origin:
1565–75; < L conglomerātus (ptp. of conglomerāre), equiv. to con- con- + glomer- (s. of glomus) ball of yarn + -ātus -ate 1

Related forms:
con⋅glom⋅er⋅at⋅ic  [kuhn-glom-uh-rat-ik, kuhng-] , con⋅glom⋅er⋅it⋅ic  [kuhn-glom-uh-rit-ik, kuhng-] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To conglomerate
con·glom·er·ate   (kən-glŏm'ə-rāt')   
v.   con·glom·er·at·ed, con·glom·er·at·ing, con·glom·er·ates

v.   intr.

  1. To form or gather into a mass or whole.

  2. To form into or merge with a corporate conglomerate.

v.   tr.
To cause to form into a mass or whole.
n.   (-ər-ĭt)

  1. A corporation made up of a number of different companies that operate in diversified fields.

  2. A collected heterogeneous mass; a cluster: a city-suburban conglomerate; a conglomerate of color, passion, and artistry.

  3. Geology A rock consisting of pebbles and gravel embedded in cement.

adj.   (-ər-ĭt)

  1. Gathered into a mass; clustered.

  2. Geology Made up of loosely cemented heterogeneous material.


[Latin conglomerāre, conglomerāt- : com-, com- + glomerāre, to wind into a ball (from glomus, glomer-, ball).]
con·glom'er·at'ic (-ə-rāt'ĭk), con·glom'er·it'ic (-ə-rĭt'ĭk) adj., con·glom'er·a'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Cultural Dictionary

conglomerate [(kuhn-glom-uhr-uht)]

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

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

conglomerate 
1572, from L. conglomeratus, pp. of conglomerare "to roll together," from com- "together" + glomerare "to gather into a ball," from glomus (gen. glomeris) "a ball." Noun meaning "large business group" is from 1967.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Financial Dictionary

Conglomerate

A company that consists of a grouping of businesses from unrelated streams.

Investopedia Commentary

Conglomerates diversify their business risk through profit gained from profit centers in various lines of business. However, some may become so diversified and complicated that they are too difficult to manage efficiently.

Since their large popularity from the 1960s to 80s, many conglomerates have reduced their profit centers to a choice few.

See also: Diversification, Profit Center

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
Cite This Source
Financial Dictionary

conglomerate

A company engaged in varied business operations, many of which seem unrelated. A conglomerate is designed to have reduced risk, since its various operations are affected differently by business conditions over time. In addition, it is possible for a conglomerate to redistribute its corporate assets depending on which operations show the most promise. Conglomerates were popular among investors during the 1960s but investors' interest in them faded during the 1970s and the 1980s.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: con·glom·er·ate
Pronunciation: k&n-'glä-m&-r&t
Function: noun
: a widely diversified company; especially : a corporation that acquires other companies whose activities are unrelated to the corporation's primary activity
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1con·glom·er·ate
Pronunciation: k&n-'gläm-(&-)r&t
Function: adjective
: made up of parts fromvarious sources or of various kinds

Main Entry: 2con·glom·er·ate
Pronunciation: -&-"rAt
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -at·ed;-at·ing
transitive senses
: to gather (something) into a mass or coherent whole conglomerate intransitive senses
: to gather into a massor coherent whole —con·glom·er·a·tive /-'gläm-(&-)r&t-iv, -&-"rAt-/ adjective

Main Entry: 3con·glom·er·ate
Pronunciation: -(&-)r&t
Function: noun
: a composite mass or mixture
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

conglomerate con·glom·er·ate (kən-glŏm'ər-ĭt)
adj.
Gathered or aggregated into a mass.

con·glom'er·a'tion (-ə-rā'shən) n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see conglomerate on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way