Alloy : (noun)
1: a mixture containing two or more metallic elements or
metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together
or dissolving into each other when molten; "brass is an
alloy of zinc and copper" [syn: metal]
2: the state of impairing the quality or reducing the value of
something [syn: admixture]
(verb)
1: lower in value by increasing the base-metal content [syn: debase]
2: make an alloy of
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Alloy : \Al*loy"\, v. t.
To form a metallic compound.
Gold and iron alloy with ease. --Ure.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Alloy : \Al*loy"\, n. [OE. alai, OF. alei, F. aloyer, to alloy,
alier to ally. See Alloy, v. t.]
1. Any combination or compound of metals fused together; a
mixture of metals; for example, brass, which is an alloy
of copper and zinc. But when mercury is one of the metals,
the compound is called an amalgam.
2. The quality, or comparative purity, of gold or silver;
fineness.
3. A baser metal mixed with a finer.
Fine silver is silver without the mixture of any
baser metal. Alloy is baser metal mixed with it.
--Locke.
4. Admixture of anything which lessens the value or detracts
from; as, no happiness is without alloy. ``Pure English
without Latin alloy.'' --F. Harrison.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Alloy : \Al*loy"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alloyed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Alloying.] [F. aloyer, OF. alier, allier, later allayer,
fr. L. aligare. See Alloy, n., Ally, v. t., and cf.
Allay.]
1. To reduce the purity of by mixing with a less valuable
substance; as, to alloy gold with silver or copper, or
silver with copper.
2. To mix, as metals, so as to form a compound.
3. To abate, impair, or debase by mixture; to allay; as, to
alloy pleasure with misfortunes.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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ALLOY, or ALLAY. An inferior metal, used with gold. and silver in making
coin or public money. Originally, it was one of the allowances known by the
name of remedy for errors, in the weight and purity of coins. The practice
of making such allowances continued in all European mints after the reasons,
upon which they were originally founded, had, in a great measure, ceased. In
the imperfection of the art of coining, the mixture of the metals used, and
the striking of the coins, could not be effected with, perfect accuracy.
There would be some variety in the mixture of metals made at different
times, although intended to be in the same proportions, and in different
pieces of coin, although struck by the same process and from the same die.
But the art of coining metals has now so nearly attained perfection, that
such allowances have become, if not altogether, in a great measure at least,
unnecessary. The laws of the United States make no allowance for
deficiencies of weight. See Report of the Secretary of State of the United
States, to the Senate of the U. S., Feb. 22, 1821, pp. 63, 64.
2. The act of Congress of 2d of April, 1792, sect. 12, directs that the
standard for all gold coins of the United States, shall be eleven parts fine
to one part of alloy; and sect. 13, that the standard for all silver coins
of the United States, shall be one thousand four hundred and eighty-five
parts fine, to one hundred and seventy-nine parts alloy. 1 Story's L. U. S.
20. By the act of Congress, 18th Feb. 1831, Sec. 8, it is provided, that the
standard for both gold and silver coin of the United States, shall be such,
that of one thousand parts by weight, nine hundred shall be of pure metal,
and one hundred of alloy; and theAlloy : of the silver coins shall be of
copper, and the alloy of gold coins shall be of copper and silver, provided,
that the silver do not exceed one-half of the whole alloy. See also, Smith's
Wealth of Nations, vol. i., pp. 49, 50.
Based on Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [Bouvier_Law_Dictionary]:
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