| 释义 |
al·loy
I. \ˈaˌlȯi, əˈl-, aˈl-; ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ is prob more freq for noun senses 4 & 5, and for the verb, than for noun senses 2 & 3\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle French aloi, from aloier
1. obsolete : essential quality or character : standard
2. : degree of mixture with base metals : comparative purity (as of gold or silver) : fineness
3.
a. : a substance composed of two or more metals intimately mixed and united usually by being fused together and dissolving in each other when molten
< brass is an alloy of copper and zinc >
also : the state of union of the components
b. : a similar substance with metallic properties, sometimes with limited malleability and conductivity, formed by union of a metal and a nonmetal
< steel is an alloy of iron and carbon >
c. archaic : an inferior metal mixed with a more valuable one
< coins made of silver and alloy >
4.
a. : admixture that lessens value or detracts from quality
b. : an impairing alien element or part
< no happiness is without alloy >
< had his alloy, like other people, of ambition and selfishness — Rose Macaulay >
5. : any compound, mixture, or union of different things : amalgam
< an ethnic alloy of many peoples >
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: obsolete French aloyer, from Old French aleier, aloier, alier to combine, from Latin alligare to bind, bind to — more at ally
transitive verb
1. : to reduce the purity of by mixing with a less valuable metal
< alloy gold with copper >
2. : to mix with another metal or metals (as by melting together) : use as the constituent or constituents of an alloy : mix so as to form an alloy
3. : to lower, impair, or debase by mixture
< alloying the splendor of the sight >
: allay, moderate, temper
< mercy should alloy our stern resentment — W.S.Gilbert >
intransitive verb
: to mix to form an alloy : lend itself readily to being alloyed
< iron alloys well > |