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. To form or gather into a mass or whole. To form into or merge with a corporate conglomerate. v.   tr. To cause to form into a mass or whole. n.   (-ər-ĭt) A corporation made up of a number of different companies that operate in diversified fields. A collected heterogeneous mass; a cluster: a city-suburban conglomerate; a conglomerate of color, passion, and artistry. Geology A rock consisting of pebbles and gravel embedded in cement. adj.   (-ər-ĭt) Gathered into a mass; clustered. 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.

Conglomerate

Con*glom"er*ate\, a. [L. conglomeratus, p. p. of conglomerare to roll together; con- + glomerare to wind into a ball. See Glomerate.]

1. Gathered into a ball or a mass; collected together; concentrated; as, conglomerate rays of light.

Beams of light when they are multiplied and conglomerate. --Bacon.

Fluids are separated in the liver and the other conglobate and conglomerate glands. --Cheyne.

2. (Bot.) Closely crowded together; densly clustered; as, conglomerate flowers. --Gray.

3. (Geol.) Composed of stones, pebbles, or fragments of rocks, cemented together.

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

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

conglomerate 

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

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.

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

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

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

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con·glom'er·a'tion (-ə-rā'shən) n.

conglomerate   (kən-glŏm'ə-rāt')  Pronunciation Key  A coarse-grained sedimentary rock consisting of round rock fragments cemented together by hardened silt, clay, calcium carbonate, or a similar material. The fragments (known as clasts) have a diameter of at least 2 mm (0.08 inches), vary in composition and origin, and may include pebbles, cobbles, boulders, or fossilized seashells. Conglomerates often form through the transportation and deposition of sediments by streams, alluvial fans, and glaciers.