The Meaning of Aggregate: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of aggregate? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word aggregate, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!

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What does the word aggregate mean?

According to Collins English Dictionary and other sources like American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language and Merriam-Webster, the word aggregate can be used as an adjective, noun, or verb. As an adjective, the word aggregate describes something that is made whole by many parts, like sand, gravel, or slag mixed with cement to form concrete, mortar, or plaster, or the little bubbles on a raspberry. As a noun, the word aggregate refers to a group of things that are gathered into a whole, as well as aggregate rock. This could refer to florets of broccoli that form a head, the petals of a daisy in botany, pebbles that form a stony beach, or cows that form a herd. In short, it is a collection of particulars, a gross amount, a whole mass, or a mixture of minerals or constituent parts. As a verb, the word aggregate means to combine into a whole. Many things can be aggregate, including aggregate fruit, an aggregate amount of indebtedness across expenses of all divisions for the entire year, a dense cluster of carpels, an aggregate of all past experience, aggregate glands, aggregate expenses and more. The word aggregate is three syllables – agg-re-gate, and the pronunciation of aggregate is æɡrɪɡɪt, -ˌɡeɪt. One can add the suffixes ed and ing to form aggregated and aggregating. 

Many other languages also contain words that mean aggregate. You may notice that many of these words look and sound similar to the word aggregate. These are called cognates, which are words and phrases that mean the same thing as well as look and sound similar between languages. These are often formed when two words have the same root word or language of origin like Latin or Greek. This list of translations for the word aggregate is provided by Word Sense.

  •  Lojban: gunma‎
  •  Finnish: kokonaismäärä‎, kokonaissumma‎, kokonaisuus‎
  •  Portuguese: agregado‎ (masc.)
  •  Spanish: agregado‎ (masc.), conjunto‎ (masc.)
  •  German: Aggregat‎ (neut.)
  •  Bulgarian: агрегат‎, съвкупност‎
  •  Dutch: geheel‎, samenstel‎
  •  Italian: aggregato‎ (masc.)

How can the word aggregate be used in a sentence?

The word aggregate can be used in numerous different ways in sentences in the English language. Using words in a sentence is a great way to memorize their definitions. You can also try making flashcards or quizzes to memorize definitions and test your knowledge. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today! Below are a couple of examples of aggregate to get you started, 

She formed an aggregate of each small crumb she found on the internet from different sources – from the brambles in the part to the granite at the dump – to form a conjunction of clues and solve the case.

He formed a composite material from the cementing agent and the gravel to use his geology knowledge by mechanical means to form an aggregate.

What is the origin of the word aggregate?

According to Etymonline, the word aggregate (ˈæɡrɪɡɪt) has been used as an adjective and a verb since the year 1400, and as a noun since early c15 in Late Middle English. The adjective comes from the Latin aggregatus/Latin aggregātus, the past participle of aggregāre/aggregare, from ad meaning to and gregare/gregāre meaning to collect or gather. This comes from grex, the genetitive gregis meaning a flock. The verb aggregate comes from the same source and Proto-Indo-European roots. The noun comes from the Latin aggregatum, which is the neuter of aggregatus. One can add the suffix or to form the related word aggregator (n.).

What are synonyms and antonyms of the word aggregate?

There are many different words and phrases that a person can use in place of the word aggregate. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same meaning as another word or phrase. Synonyms are useful to know if you are trying not to repeat yourself in conversation or a written work, as well as if you are trying to expand your vocabulary. This list of synonyms for the word aggregate is provided by Thesaurus

  •  combination
  •  assemble
  •  heaped
  •  pile
  •  mass
  •  quantity
  •  cumulative
  •  total
  •  accumulate
  •  accumulation
  •  assembled
  •  number
  •  assemblage
  •  gross
  •  total
  •  collected
  •  totality
  •  mix
  •  bulk
  •  corporate
  •  whole
  •  pile
  •  body
  •  amassed
  •  combine
  •  agglomerate
  •  mixed
  •  agglomeration
  •  come
  •  sum
  •  whole schmear
  •  mixture
  •  whole enchilada
  •  accumulated
  •  conglomerate
  •  amass
  •  total
  •  conglomeration
  •  amount
  •  collect
  •  heap
  •  add up
  •  amount
  •  all
  •  whole shooting match
  •  combined
  •  composite
  •  piled
  •  heap
  •  collective
  •  whole ball of wax
  •  the works
  •  lump
  •  sum
  •  added
  •  collection

There are also numerous different words that mean the opposite of the word aggregate. These opposite words are called antonyms. Antonyms are another great tool to use to expand your English language vocabulary. This list of antonyms for the word aggregate is provided by Thesaurus as well. 

  •  cast forth
  •  scatter
  •  dole out
  •  diffuse
  •  measure out
  •  scatter
  •  eject
  •  disappear
  •  vanish
  •  dislodge
  •  sow
  •  besprinkle
  •  radiate
  •  split up
  •  break up
  •  shed
  •  scramble
  •  banish
  •  disperse
  •  spray
  •  dismiss
  •  divvy
  •  circulate
  •  dispel
  •  deal
  •  send off
  •  propagate
  •  broadcast
  •  intersperse
  •  disburse
  •  partition
  •  rout
  •  dissipate
  •  disseminate
  •  take off in all directions
  •  distribute
  •  discharge
  •  disband
  •  separate
  •  spread
  •  strew
  •  dissolve

Overall, the word aggregate means an assemblage of particulars, a union of homogeneous particles or a union of heterogeneous particles, a sum of particulars, a common organized mass,  an assemblage of many separate units, or a dense cluster of separate units of particulate materials. This comes from the Latin aggregāre and is used in both British English and American English.

Sources:

  1. aggregate: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense 
  2. AGGREGATE Synonyms: 71 Synonyms & Antonyms for AGGREGATE | Thesaurus 
  3. DISPERSE Synonyms: 53 Synonyms & Antonyms for DISPERSE | Thesaurus 
  4. aggregate | Origin and meaning of aggregate | Online Etymology Dictionary 
  5. Aggregate definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary