Aggregate, Aggregation, Conglomerate, Conglomeration, Agglomerate and Agglomeration all denote a mass formed by parts or particles that are not merged into each other.
Aggregate and aggregation imply the formation of a whole but without the blending of its constituents.
- sandstone is a natural aggregate of quartz and a cementing substance (as silica or iron oxide)
- we have no communities. Our villages even are apt, rather, to be aggregations
—Brownell
Conglomerate and conglomeration emphasize the heterogeneousness of the components and often suggest their assemblage from a wide variety of sources; sometimes either is applied to a heap of things, sometimes to an aggregate in which the parts are clearly distinguishable.
- pantheism is generally a conglomerate of animism, poetical fancy, and mysticism
—Inge - that conglomeration of men we call a nation
—Liddon
Agglomerate and agglomeration in general use seldom imply coherence of parts; they suggest either a huddling together or often a fortuitous association.
- a mere agglomeration of different races, without national unity, national aims
—Page
In geology agglomerate designates a rock aggregate composed of irregularly shaped fragments scattered by volcanic explosions as distinguished from conglomerate, an aggregate composed of rounded, waterworn stones.