Conglomerate vs. Agglomerate — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 26, 2023
A "Conglomerate" is a rock composed of rounded fragments or a corporation made up of diverse businesses. An "Agglomerate" is a rock of clustered fragments or a collected mass.
Difference Between Conglomerate and Agglomerate
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Key Differences
A Conglomerate often refers to a specific type of rock formed from the cementation of rounded gravel or cobble-sized fragments. In business, it indicates a multi-industry corporation. On the other hand, an Agglomerate is a rock made of volcanic fragments that have been ejected and subsequently clustered together. Outside geology, it denotes any collection or mass of things.
When discussing geology, the distinguishing factor between a Conglomerate and an Agglomerate is the shape of their constituents. Conglomerates are characterized by their rounded fragments, which have been worn smooth over time. Agglomerates, conversely, are more jagged, resulting from volcanic activity.
In corporate terms, a Conglomerate suggests a large, often multinational corporation comprising varied business entities across different industries. An Agglomerate, while not typically used in business jargon, could theoretically refer to a collective group or assembly without suggesting any corporate structure.
The root of the word Conglomerate comes from Latin, signifying a "rolling together." This rolling together can be seen in the roundness of the rock's fragments or the diverse nature of a conglomerate company. Agglomerate also has Latin origins, meaning "to gather into a ball," hinting at its clustered, bunched nature.
In essence, while both Conglomerate and Agglomerate can refer to composite materials, especially in the geological sense, their specifics and applications differ substantially, with the former having significant corporate connotations and the latter emphasizing a collected mass.
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Comparison Chart
Definition in Geology
Rock with rounded fragments.
Rock with clustered fragments.
Shape of Fragments
Rounded.
Jagged or irregular.
Origin
Latin: "Rolling together."
Latin: "To gather into a ball."
Corporate Reference
Multi-industry corporation.
Not typically used, but could mean a collection/group.
Outside Geology
Corporation made up of diverse businesses.
A clustered mass or collection.
Compare with Definitions
Conglomerate
A rock composed of rounded, water-worn mineral fragments.
The riverbed was lined with conglomerate rocks.
Agglomerate
A rock composed of volcanic fragments of various sizes.
The volcano's eruption deposited agglomerate materials around its base.
Conglomerate
A mixture or combination of varied elements.
The festival was a conglomerate of cultures and arts.
Agglomerate
Formed by the collection of units or particles.
The sand dunes were an agglomerate of countless grains.
Conglomerate
Any mass formed by the combination of different things.
The dish was a tasty conglomerate of spices and flavors.
Agglomerate
To gather or collect into a mass or cluster.
The crowd began to agglomerate around the celebrity.
Conglomerate
United or combined into a coherent, integrated whole.
The conglomerate efforts of the team led to success.
Agglomerate
Things or parts gathered into a mass or whole.
The sculpture was an agglomerate of metal pieces.
Conglomerate
A thing consisting of a number of different and distinct parts or items that are grouped together
The Earth is a specialized conglomerate of organisms
Agglomerate
A jumbled heap or mass.
The room was an agglomerate of books and papers.
Conglomerate
A coarse-grained sedimentary rock composed of rounded fragments embedded in a matrix of cementing material such as silica
The sediments vary from coarse conglomerate to fine silt and clay
Agglomerate
Agglomerate (from the Latin agglomerare meaning "to form into a ball") is a coarse accumulation of large blocks of volcanic material that contains at least 75% bombs. Volcanic bombs differ from volcanic blocks in that their shape records fluidal surfaces: they may, for example, have ropy, cauliform, scoriaceous, folded, spindle, spatter, ribbon, ragged, or amoeboid shapes.
Conglomerate
Relating to a conglomerate, especially a large corporation
Conglomerate firms
Agglomerate
Collect or form into a mass or group
He is seeking to agglomerate the functions of the Home Office
These small particles soon agglomerate together
Conglomerate
Gather together into a compact mass
Atoms which conglomerate at the centre
Agglomerate
A mass or collection of things
A multimedia agglomerate
Conglomerate
To form or gather into a mass or whole.
Agglomerate
Collected or formed into a mass.
Conglomerate
To form into or merge with a corporate conglomerate.
Agglomerate
To form or collect into a rounded mass.
Conglomerate
To cause to form into a mass or whole.
Agglomerate
Gathered into a rounded mass.
Conglomerate
A corporation made up of a number of different companies that operate in diversified fields.
Agglomerate
A confused or jumbled mass; a heap.
Conglomerate
A collected heterogeneous mass; a cluster
A conglomerate of color, passion, and artistry.
Agglomerate
A volcanic rock consisting of rounded and angular fragments fused together.
Conglomerate
(Geology) A coarse-grained sedimentary rock consisting of rounded to subangular rock fragments cemented together by hardened silt, clay, calcium carbonate, or similar material.
Agglomerate
Collected into a ball, heap, or mass
Conglomerate
Gathered into a mass; clustered.
Agglomerate
A collection or mass.
Conglomerate
(Geology) Made up of loosely cemented heterogeneous material.
Agglomerate
A mass of angular volcanic fragments united by heat; distinguished from conglomerate.
Conglomerate
A cluster of heterogeneous things.
Agglomerate
(meteorology) An ice cover of floe formed by the freezing together of various forms of ice.
Conglomerate
(business) A corporation formed by the combination of several smaller corporations whose activities are unrelated to the corporation's primary activity.
Agglomerate
(ambitransitive) To wind or collect into a ball; hence, to gather into a mass or anything like a mass.
Conglomerate
(geology) A rock consisting of gravel or pebbles embedded in a matrix.
Agglomerate
To wind or collect into a ball; hence, to gather into a mass or anything like a mass.
Where he builds the agglomerated pile.
Conglomerate
Clustered together into a mass.
Conglomerate flowers
Agglomerate
To collect in a mass.
Conglomerate
(geology) Composed of fragments of rock, pebbles, or stones cemented together.
Agglomerate
Collected into a ball, heap, or mass.
Conglomerate
(transitive) To combine together into a larger mass.
Agglomerate
Collected into a rounded head of flowers.
Conglomerate
To combine together into a larger corporation.
Agglomerate
A collection or mass.
Conglomerate
Gathered into a ball or a mass; collected together; concentrated; as, conglomerate rays of light.
Beams of light when they are multiplied and conglomerate.
Fluids are separated in the liver and the other conglobate and conglomerate glands.
Agglomerate
A mass of angular volcanic fragments united by heat; - distinguished from conglomerate.
Conglomerate
Closely crowded together; densly clustered; as, conglomerate flowers.
Agglomerate
Form into one cluster
Conglomerate
Composed of stones, pebbles, or fragments of rocks, cemented together.
Agglomerate
Clustered together but not coherent;
An agglomerated flower head
Conglomerate
That which is heaped together in a mass or conpacted from various sources; a mass formed of fragments; collection; accumulation.
A conglomerate of marvelous anecdotes, marvelously heaped together.
Conglomerate
A rock, composed or rounded fragments of stone cemented together by another mineral substance, either calcareous, siliceous, or argillaceous; pudding stone; - opposed to agglomerate. See Breccia.
A conglomerate, therefore, is simply gravel bound together by a cement.
Conglomerate
To gather into a ball or round body; to collect into a mass.
Conglomerate
A composite rock made up of particles of varying size
Conglomerate
A group of diverse companies under common ownership and run as a single organization
Conglomerate
Collect or gather;
Journals are accumulating in my office
The work keeps piling up
Conglomerate
Composed of heterogeneous elements gathered into a mass;
The conglomerate peoples of New England
Conglomerate
A corporation consisting of several different companies.
The conglomerate acquired three more tech firms this year.
Common Curiosities
Can "agglomerate" be used as a verb?
Yes, it can mean to gather or collect into a mass or cluster.
Which has volcanic origins, conglomerate or agglomerate?
Agglomerate has volcanic origins.
Are both conglomerate and agglomerate types of rocks?
Yes, both are composite rocks, but conglomerate has rounded fragments, while agglomerate has volcanic fragments.
Can conglomerate refer to a mix of cultures?
Yes, it can denote a mixture or combination of varied elements, including cultures.
In corporate terms, what does conglomerate suggest?
It suggests a large corporation comprising varied business entities.
Is "agglomerate" commonly used in business language?
No, it's more common in geological contexts or when discussing things gathered into a mass.
Which rock, conglomerate or agglomerate, has rounded particles?
Conglomerate has rounded particles.
Do both words have Latin origins?
Yes, both come from Latin but have different etymologies and meanings.
Is a conglomerate always about business?
No, it can refer to rocks or any mixed assembly, but it's often associated with multi-industry corporations.
Can "conglomerate" be used as a verb?
Less commonly, but it can mean to gather or combine into a whole.
What's the texture of an agglomerate rock?
It's rough and irregular, due to its volcanic fragments.
Is an "agglomerate" always of volcanic origin?
In geology, yes. In broader contexts, it simply means a collection or mass.
Can "conglomerate" refer to a collection of ideas?
Yes, it can denote a mixture of varied elements, including ideas.
What's the primary context for "agglomerate"?
It's most often used in geological contexts, but it can also mean any collected mass.
Does every conglomerate company operate in multiple industries?
Not always, but the term typically suggests a company with diverse business operations.
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Written 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.
