Composite vs. Aggregate — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 27, 2023
Composite is made up of several parts or elements, while Aggregate is a whole formed by combining several elements. Both relate to combining, but with nuanced differences.
Difference Between Composite and Aggregate
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The beauty of the English language lies in its rich vocabulary, allowing for precision. Composite refers to something formed from multiple distinct parts or elements. A composite material, for instance, merges different substances to harness their collective strengths, producing a material that might be lighter or stronger than its individual components.
Conversely, Aggregate often denotes a collection or sum of various elements, especially in contexts like mathematics or construction. While the term "composite" emphasizes the end result of merging different parts, "aggregate" leans more towards the notion of gathering and summing up.
For instance, in construction, aggregate might comprise sand, gravel, or crushed stone. The primary distinction is in the intention behind each word: Composite looks to create something new from different elements, while Aggregate focuses on accumulating or summing those elements.
Comparison Chart
Meaning
Made up of several parts or elements.
A whole formed by combining several elements.
Use
Descriptive term for combined materials.
Summation or collection term.
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Origin
Latin "componere", meaning "to put together".
Latin "aggregare", meaning "to add to".
Example Usage
Composite materials are used in aircraft.
The aggregate score was 5-3 in favor of the team.
Application Field
Materials science, mathematics, general use.
Construction, mathematics, general use.
Compare with Definitions
Composite
Involving multiple contributors.
The team's composite effort led to success.
Aggregate
Collection of items.
The aggregate of evidence pointed to one suspect.
Composite
Made up of several parts or elements
This soup is one of those composite dishes which you gradually build up
Aggregate
Combined total.
The aggregate sales surpassed expectations.
Composite
Relating to or denoting a classical order of architecture consisting of elements of the Ionic and Corinthian orders.
Aggregate
A gathered whole.
The aggregate of student opinions was taken into account.
Composite
Relating to or denoting plants of the daisy family (Compositae ).
Aggregate
A whole formed by combining several separate elements
The council was an aggregate of three regional assemblies
Composite
A thing made up of several parts or elements
The English legal system is a composite of legislation and judicial precedent
Aggregate
A material or structure formed from a mass of fragments or particles loosely compacted together
The specimen is an aggregate of rock and mineral fragments
Composite
A plant of the daisy family (Compositae ).
Aggregate
Formed or calculated by the combination of several separate elements; total
The aggregate amount of grants made
Composite
The Composite order of architecture.
Aggregate
Form or group into a class or cluster
Socio-occupational groups aggregate men sharing similar kinds of occupation
The butterflies aggregate in dense groups
Composite
Combine (two or more images) to make a single picture
Photographic compositing by computer
Aggregate
Constituting or amounting to a whole; total
Aggregate sales in that market.
Composite
Made up of distinct components; compound.
Aggregate
(Botany) Crowded or massed into a dense cluster.
Composite
Made by combining two or more existing things, such as photographs.
Aggregate
Composed of a mixture of minerals separable by mechanical means.
Composite
(Mathematics) Having factors; factorable.
Aggregate
A total considered with reference to its constituent parts; a gross amount
"An empire is the aggregate of many states under one common head" (Edmund Burke).
Composite
(Botany) Of, belonging to, or characteristic of the composite family.
Aggregate
The mineral materials, such as sand or stone, used in making concrete.
Composite
Composite(Architecture) Of, relating to, or being in the Composite order.
Aggregate
To gather into a mass, sum, or whole
Aggregated the donations into one bank account.
Composite
A structure or entity made up of distinct components
A musical suite that is a composite of operatic themes.
Aggregate
To amount to; total
Revenues will aggregate more than one million dollars.
Composite
A material in which two or more distinct, structurally complementary materials, usually a matrix material and a reinforcing material, are combined to produce structural or functional properties not present in any individual component. Wood, bone, concrete, plastic reinforced by glass fibers, and graphite reinforced with carbon fibers are all composite materials.
Aggregate
To collect (content from different sources on the internet) into one webpage or newsreader.
Composite
(Botany) A plant in the composite family.
Aggregate
To come together or collect in a mass or whole
"Some [bacteria]aggregate so closely as to mimic a multicellular organism" (Gina Kolata). "The first stars began to form when hydrogen and helium gas left over from the Big Bang aggregated into dense clouds" (Paul Davies).
Composite
(Mathematics) The application of one function to another. For example, if (x) = x2 and g(x) = x + 1, then the composite (g(x)) = (x + 1)2 and the composite g((x)) = x2 + 1.
Aggregate
A mass, assemblage, or sum of particulars; something consisting of elements but considered as a whole.
Composite
To make using distinct components.
Aggregate
A mass formed by the union of homogeneous particles; – in distinction from a compound, formed by the union of heterogeneous particles.
Composite
To make by combining two or more photographs or images.
Aggregate
A set collection of objects.
Composite
Made up of multiple components; compound or complex.
Aggregate
(music) The full chromatic scale of twelve equal tempered pitches.
Composite
(architecture) Being a mixture of Ionic and Corinthian styles.
Aggregate
(sports) The total score in a set of games between teams or competitors, usually the combination of the home and away scores.
Composite
(mathematics) Having factors other than itself and one; not prime and not one.
Aggregate
(roofing) Crushed stone, crushed slag or water-worn gravel used for surfacing a built-up roof system.
Composite
(botany) Belonging to the Asteraceae family (formerly known as Compositae), bearing involucrate heads of many small florets.
Aggregate
Solid particles of low aspect ratio added to a composite material, as distinguished from the matrix and any fibers or reinforcements; especially the gravel and sand added to concrete.
Composite
Employing multiple exposures on a single plate, so as to create an average view of something, such as faces in physiognomy.
Composite portraiture; a composite photograph
Aggregate
(Buddhism) Any of the five attributes that constitute the sentient being.
Composite
A mixture of different components.
Aggregate
A mechanical mixture of more than one phase.
Composite
A structural material that gains its strength from a combination of complementary materials.
Aggregate
Formed by a collection of particulars into a whole mass or sum; collective; combined; added up.
Composite
(botany) A plant belonging to the family Asteraceae, syn. Compositae.
Aggregate
Consisting or formed of smaller objects or parts.
Composite
(mathematics) A function of a function.
Aggregate
Formed into clusters or groups of lobules.
Aggregate glands
Composite
(mathematics) composite number
Aggregate
(botany) Composed of several florets within a common involucre, as in the daisy; or of several carpels formed from one flower, as in the raspberry.
Composite
A drawing, photograph, etc. that combines several separate pictures or images.
Aggregate
Having the several component parts adherent to each other only to such a degree as to be separable by mechanical means.
Composite
A railway carriage with compartments for two different classes of travel; see Composite Corridor.
Aggregate
United into a common organized mass; said of certain compound animals.
Composite
To make a composite.
I composited an image using computer software.
Aggregate
(transitive) To bring together; to collect into a mass or sum.
The aggregated soil.
Composite
Made up of distinct parts or elements; compounded; as, a composite language.
Happiness, like air and water . . . is composite.
Aggregate
To add or unite (e.g. a person), to an association.
Composite
Belonging to a certain order which is composed of the Ionic order grafted upon the Corinthian. It is called also the Roman or the Italic order, and is one of the five orders recognized by the Italian writers of the sixteenth century. See Capital.
Aggregate
(transitive) To amount in the aggregate to.
There are ten loads, aggregating five hundred bushels.
Composite
Belonging to the order Compositæ; bearing involucrate heads of many small florets, as the daisy, thistle, and dandelion.
Aggregate
To bring together; to collect into a mass or sum. "The aggregated soil."
Composite
That which is made up of parts or compounded of several elements; composition; combination; compound.
Aggregate
To add or unite, as, a person, to an association.
It is many times hard to discern to which of the two sorts, the good or the bad, a man ought to be aggregated.
Composite
A conceptual whole made up of complicated and related parts;
The complex of shopping malls, houses, and roads created a new town
Aggregate
To amount in the aggregate to; as, ten loads, aggregating five hundred bushels.
Composite
Considered the most highly evolved dicotyledonous plants, characterized by florets arranged in dense heads that resemble single flowers
Aggregate
Formed by a collection of particulars into a whole mass or sum; collective.
The aggregate testimony of many hundreds.
Composite
Consisting of separate interconnected parts
Aggregate
Formed into clusters or groups of lobules; as, aggregate glands.
Composite
Of or relating to or belonging to the plant family Compositae
Aggregate
Composed of several florets within a common involucre, as in the daisy; or of several carpels formed from one flower, as in the raspberry.
Composite
Used of color
Aggregate
Having the several component parts adherent to each other only to such a degree as to be separable by mechanical means.
Composite
A modified Corinthian style of architecture (a combination of Corinthian and Ionic)
Aggregate
United into a common organized mass; - said of certain compound animals.
Composite
Made of distinct parts.
The bridge is made of a composite material.
Aggregate
A mass, assemblage, or sum of particulars; as, a house is an aggregate of stone, brick, timber, etc.
Composite
Combining different elements.
A composite sketch was drawn using witnesses' descriptions.
Aggregate
A mass formed by the union of homogeneous particles; - in distinction from a compound, formed by the union of heterogeneous particles.
Composite
A compound material.
Fiberglass is a common composite used in boats.
Aggregate
A sum total of many heterogenous things taken together
Composite
Formed by combination.
The painting is a composite of various scenes.
Aggregate
The whole amount
Aggregate
Amount in the aggregate to
Aggregate
Gather in a mass, sum, or whole
Aggregate
Gathered or tending to gather into a mass or whole;
Aggregate expenses include expenses of all divisions combined for the entire year
The aggregated amount of indebtedness
Aggregate
Formed of separate units in a cluster;
Raspberries are aggregate fruits
Aggregate
Material in construction.
Sand is a key aggregate in making concrete.
Aggregate
Summation.
His aggregate score over three games was impressive.
Common Curiosities
Is aggregate always about numbers?
No, it can also refer to materials, like in construction.
Can aggregate refer to a group's opinion?
Yes, like the aggregate opinion of a committee.
Which term implies creating a new material: composite or aggregate?
Composite, as it emphasizes forming something new.
Can a team's combined effort be called composite?
Yes, it can be described as a composite effort.
Is the sum of a series of scores termed as aggregate?
Yes, like an aggregate score in a tournament.
Can "composite" refer to a drawing?
Yes, like a composite sketch created using multiple descriptions.
Does every composite material contain aggregates?
Not necessarily. Composite just means it's made of various parts.
Are all composites strong materials?
Not always. It depends on the materials combined.
What's an example of a composite in everyday life?
Composite decking made of wood and plastic is one example.
Can aggregate refer to data collection?
Yes, like aggregating data from different sources.
Is the term aggregate common in construction?
Yes, referring to materials like sand or gravel in concrete.
Is aggregate a verb?
Yes, it can be, meaning to gather or accumulate.
Can aggregate be used in a mathematical context?
Yes, like the aggregate sum of a series of numbers.
Does a composite always involve two or more elements?
Yes, it's formed from multiple elements or parts.
Which term emphasizes the end product more?
Composite emphasizes the resulting product from combined elements.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
