Words / B2

AL-oy/ˈælɔɪ/

An alloy is a metal made by mixing two or more metals, or a metal with a non-metal: a copper–tin alloy; alloy wheels. Bronze is copper and tin (already in a B2 list); brass is copper and zinc; steel is iron with carbon. Name the alloy in the materials table, then the % composition. Mix-up: alloy vs ally; allow (already in the dictionary); do not write alloy for a pure element in the data book.

Meaning

A metal made by mixing two or more metals, or a metal with a non-metal.

Examples

• “Name the alloy in the materials table, then the % composition, not a jewellery slogan.”
• “An alloy steel featured in the DT spec, which is the iron–carbon-plus sense — still name the extra metal if given.”

Good to know

a copper–tin alloy; an alloy of; alloy steel / wheels. Close: bronze / brass / steel. Trap: ally / allow / a pure metal. Chemistry and DT. A mixture of metals — quote the %.

Near in meaning

mixture, blend, amalgam

New