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aggregation|ægrɪˈgeɪʃən|
[n. of action f. aggregate v., as if ad. L. *aggregātiōn-em f. aggregā-re. Cf. L. congregātio, and late Fr. agrégation.]
1. a. The action or process of collecting particles into a mass, or particulars into a whole; or of adding one particle to an amount; collection, assemblage, union.
1564Bauldwin Mor. Philos. (ed. Palfr.) v. iv, Learning is no other thing but the aggregation of many mens sentences and acts. 1671J. Webster Metallogr. iii. 45 By aggregation and apposition of atoms. 1817Jas. Mill Brit. India I. iii. v. 638 By the continual aggregation of one individual case to another. 1875Darwin Insectiv. Plants vi. 113 The glands were blackened from the aggregation of their protoplasmic contents.
b. Ecology. The act or process of organisms coming together to form a group; a group so formed; = association 12. (See also quot. 1927.)
1905F. E. Clements Research Methods in Ecology 314. 1912 J. S. Huxley Indiv. in Anim. Kingdom iv. 110 In the making of Volvox, community-life—mere aggregation—came first, division of labour last. 1927Haldane & Huxley Animal Biol. xi. 235 Aggregation is the joining together of a number of separate units to form a super-unit, as when coral polyps unite to form a colony. 1929Weaver & Clements Plant Ecol. i. 3 The individuals come to be grouped, as a result of propagation, a process termed aggregation.
2. The adding of any one to an association as a member thereof; admission, affiliation.
a1710G. Bull Wks. II. 555 (T.) The aggregation, or joyning of one's self to the worship and service of the only true God. 1796W. Taylor in Month. Rev. XX. 537 The second [book] recounts his aggregation to the society of free-masons.
3. The state of being aggregated, assembled, or united into a whole; aggregate condition.
1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 10 Their individuall imperfections being great, they are moreover enlarged by their aggregation. 1794Sullivan View of Nat. I. 297 The first state of a body, at least chymically considered, is that in which it is in the greatest possible aggregation. 1870Tyndall Heat v. §176. 143 The phenomena which accompany changes of the state of aggregation.
4. concr. A whole composed of many particulars; a mass formed by the union of distinct particles; a gathering, assemblage, collection.
1547Boorde Breuiary ii. 2 A fatte matter in the browes the whiche be granuluse aggregacions. 1638Chillingworth Relig. Prot. i. ii. §142. 107 The Church being nothing else but an aggregation of Believers. 1833Brewster Nat. Magic v. 106 Small spherical aggregations of siliceous matter. 1863Fawcett Pol. Econ. i. v. 71 Victoria has..advanced from an aggregation of isolated settlements to the position of a prosperous country. |