a·mal·gam ( -m l gm)
n.
1. Any of various alloys of mercury with other metals, especially:
a. An alloy of mercury and silver used in dental fillings.
b. An alloy of mercury and tin used in silvering mirrors.
2. A combination of diverse elements; a mixture: an amalgam of strength, reputation, and commitment to ethical principles. See Synonyms at mixture.
[Middle English, from Old French amalgame, from Medieval Latin amalgama, probably ultimately from Greekmalagma, soft mass.]
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
I love my nieces and nephews, who have an amalgam of intelligence, athleticism, and humor: some are musically talented, too.
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