conglutinate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical (Medical, Biological, Rhetorical)
Quick answer
What does “conglutinate” mean?
To stick or cause things to stick together, to adhere or fuse.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To stick or cause things to stick together, to adhere or fuse.
To unite or become united as if by glue; in medicine, to heal a wound by causing the edges to stick together; to bring into a unified whole.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similarly rare and technical in both dialects. No significant lexical or grammatical differences.
Connotations
Same formal/technical connotation in both regions.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency word in general usage, slightly more likely in specialized medical or biological texts.
Grammar
How to Use “conglutinate” in a Sentence
[Subject] conglutinates[Subject] conglutinates [Object][Subject] and [Subject] conglutinateVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conglutinate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The surgeon noted that the clean incision would conglutinate rapidly.
- The wet clay particles began to conglutinate into a solid lump.
American English
- The biological adhesive helped the tissue conglutinate properly.
- Over time, the community's shared goals conglutinated its diverse members.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form. 'Conglutinatively' is non-standard and not used.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form. 'Conglutinatively' is non-standard and not used.]
adjective
British English
- [Adjectival form 'conglutinant' is rare but exists in technical use.] The doctor applied a conglutinant poultice.
American English
- [Adjectival form 'conglutinant' is rare but exists in technical use.] The process had a strong conglutinant effect.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Potentially in abstract metaphors for corporate mergers: "The two departments need to conglutinate their efforts."
Academic
Used in medical, biological, and materials science literature to describe physiological healing or the adhesion of particles.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Primary domain. Describes the healing of wounds by first intention, the clumping of cells, or the binding of composite materials.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “conglutinate”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “conglutinate”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conglutinate”
- Using it as a synonym for 'congregate' (to gather).
- Misspelling as 'conglutenate' or 'conglutinant'.
- Using in informal contexts where 'stick together' is appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency, formal word used primarily in medical, biological, or highly technical contexts. It is not used in everyday conversation.
They are very close synonyms. 'Agglutinate' is more common in linguistics (for word formation) and general science for clumping. 'Conglutinate' often carries a stronger implication of healing or uniting separate parts into a functional whole, especially in medical contexts.
Yes, but it remains a formal choice. It can be used metaphorically to describe the uniting of ideas, groups, or abstract entities, e.g., 'to conglutinate a political alliance'.
It is primarily a transitive or intransitive verb. The related adjective is 'conglutinant', but it is extremely rare.
To stick or cause things to stick together, to adhere or fuse.
Conglutinate is usually formal, technical (medical, biological, rhetorical) in register.
Conglutinate: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈɡluːtɪneɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈɡluːtəˌneɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CONcrete' and 'GLUE' - CON-GLU-tinate means to 'glue together' firmly like concrete binds materials.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALING IS BINDING, UNITY IS ADHESION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'conglutinate' MOST appropriately used?