conglomerate (geology)

conglomerate in geology, sedimentary rock composed largely of pebbles or other rounded particles whose diameter is larger than 2 mm (.08 in.). Essentially a cemented gravel, conglomerates are formed along beaches, as glacial drift, and in river deposits. Conglomerates formed of angular shaped pebbles are called breccias.

conglomerate In geology, a sedimentary rock made up of rounded pebbles embedded in a fine matrix of sand or silt, commonly formed along beaches or on river beds.

con·glom·er·ate • n. / kənˈglämərət/ 1. a number of different things or parts that are put or grouped together to form a whole but remain distinct entities. ∎  a large corporation formed by the merging of separate and diverse firms. 2. Geol. a coarse-grained sedimentary rock composed of rounded fragments (> 2 mm) within a matrix of finer grained material. • adj. / kənˈglämərət/ of or relating to a conglomerate, esp. a large corporation: conglomerate businesses. • v. / -ˌrāt/ [intr.] gather together into a compact mass: atoms that conglomerate at the center. ∎  form a conglomerate by merging diverse businesses. DERIVATIVES: con·glom·er·a·tion / kənˌgläməˈrāshən/ n. ORIGIN: late Middle English (as an adjective describing something gathered up into a rounded mass): from Latin conglomeratus, past participle of conglomerare, from con- ‘together’ + glomus, glomer- ‘ball.’ The geological sense dates from the early 19th cent.; the other noun senses are later.