aggregate
AG-ri-git
/ˈæɡ.rɪ.ɡət/
Granular materials such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone mixed with cement to form concrete.
Provides structural mass, stability, and compressive strength while reducing material shrinkage.
The story behind the word. From Latin aggregare, meaning 'to herd into a flock'. In concrete engineering, individual loose stones are literally gathered together with cement paste to create a solid structural mass.
Word relationships
- gravel: Gravel denotes naturally rounded stones, whereas aggregate includes manufactured crushed rock and sand.
- ballast: Ballast refers to stone used specifically for track support, whereas aggregate is engineered for concrete mixes.
- binder: The adhesive element (like cement) that surrounds and glues aggregate particles together.
Commonly confused with
- rebar: Aggregate is granular rock inside concrete; rebar consists of steel bars for tensile strength.
Word family
- aggregation (noun): The collection of separate elements into a single group.
- aggregated (adjective): Formed by combining separate units.
Collocations
- coarse aggregate
- fine aggregate
- recycled aggregate
- aggregate size
Example sentences
- "Selecting clean, well-graded aggregate ensures that concrete achieves its target compressive strength." Materials Science
- "The project specified recycled concrete aggregate to reduce quarrying demands and lower project costs." Sustainable Building
Memory hook
AGGREGATE gathers AGGREGATED stones into concrete. Aggregate = stone matrix in concrete.
When not to use
Avoid using to describe loose decorative surface pebbles in general garden landscaping.
Fun facts
- Aggregate typically makes up between 60% and 75% of total concrete volume.
Explore more words
utilitarian, utilitarianism, aggregation, Marginal, amalgamate, amalgamation
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