alloy

The word “alloy” means a metal made by melting and mixing two or more elements together, at least one of which is a metal. In plain terms, a blend of metals melted together to get properties neither metal has alone.

“Alloy” is pronounced A-loy (/ˈæ.lɔɪ/ in IPA).

Here is “alloy” used in a sentence: “Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.”

Depending on how it is used, “alloy” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “alloy” comes from Latin. From Old French aloi, related to Latin alligare, "to bind together" — the same root as "ally".

“Alloy” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Alloy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a metal made by melting and mixing two or more elements together, at least one of which is a metal.

A metal is typically a pure element, such as iron or copper, while an alloy is created by melting and mixing two or more elements together, at least one of which is a metal. Alloys are made deliberately to achieve properties, such as strength or resistance to corrosion, that the individual metals lack on their own.

Well-known alloys include steel, made from iron and carbon, and bronze, made from copper and tin. These combinations are chosen because mixing the elements produces material properties superior to those of the individual metals alone.

Yes, "to alloy" means to combine metals together, or figuratively, to weaken something pure by mixing in something of lesser quality. The figurative sense often appears in writing about compromised ideals or diluted qualities.