Meaning of the Word: Aggregate
Definitions and Meaning in English
- Aggregate (noun): A whole formed by combining several separate elements or parts. It refers to a collection or total of various individual items or units.
- Aggregate (adjective): Describing something that is made up of several smaller parts or elements. For example, “aggregate data” refers to data that is collected and combined from multiple sources.
- Aggregate (verb): To combine or gather multiple elements or parts into a single group or total.
History and Origin
The word aggregate comes from the Latin aggregatus, meaning “to bring together” or “to add to,” from ad- (meaning “toward”) and grex (meaning “flock” or “group”). It was first used in English in the early 16th century to describe a collection or group of things considered as a whole. Over time, its usage expanded to describe both the process of gathering parts and the result of such a process.
Detailed Explanation
Aggregate refers to the collection or total of something formed by combining smaller, individual parts. This term can be used in various contexts, including mathematics, business, construction, and statistics. When something is described as aggregate, it typically means that it is a sum or compilation of multiple elements.
For example:
- In Statistics: Aggregate data refers to data that has been combined from different sources or over a period of time to provide a broader overview or general trend.
- In Construction: Aggregate materials like sand, gravel, and crushed stone are used in making concrete or building foundations, referring to the small individual parts that make up a larger construction material.
- In Business: Aggregate sales might refer to the total sales of a company, combining individual sales figures over a specific period.
As a verb, aggregate means to bring together or combine elements to form a single, unified group.
Example Sentences
- The aggregate score of the two teams was 5-3, with the home team winning.
- The research report presents an aggregate of all the data collected from the past year.
- The aggregate population of the two cities is over 1 million people.
- He was responsible for calculating the aggregate amount of funds raised for the charity event.
- Aggregate income from various sources helped the family cover their expenses.
- The company’s aggregate profits have increased by 10% over the last quarter.
- The project used an aggregate mix of sand and gravel for the concrete foundation.
- The aggregate results of the survey will be published next week.
- The school’s aggregate performance in the national exams showed a significant improvement.
Synonyms with Short Explanation
- Total: The full amount resulting from the addition of smaller amounts, similar to aggregate.
- Sum: The result of adding individual numbers or amounts together, akin to aggregate.
- Collection: A group of items gathered together, similar to an aggregate of parts.
- Combination: The act of joining several elements into one, related to aggregating different components.
- Assemblage: A collection or gathering of things or people, similar to aggregate when referring to multiple components coming together.
Related Words with Short Explanation
- Cumulative: Describing something that increases by successive additions, often used to describe aggregate data over time.
- Consolidated: Describing something that has been combined or made stronger, similar to aggregating different elements into one.
- Collective: Pertaining to a group or assembly of individuals, akin to an aggregate group of people.
- Compounded: Formed by combining several parts or elements, similar to an aggregate of components.
- Synthesis: The combination of different parts or elements to form a whole, much like aggregating smaller pieces.
Antonyms
- Individual: Referring to a single entity or element, the opposite of something that is aggregated.
- Separate: Existing independently or apart from others, unlike an aggregate, which combines parts.
- Fragmented: Describing something broken into pieces or parts, the opposite of being aggregated or unified.
- Divided: Separated into parts or portions, the opposite of being aggregated or whole.
- Dispersed: Spread out over an area, unlike aggregated elements that are collected together.
