[f. L. conglomerāt- ppl. stem of conglomerā-re to roll, heap, or press together, f. con + glomerā-re to form into a ball, f. glomer- (glomus) ball.]
† 1. trans. To roll or wind (thread) into a ball.
1623. Cockeram, Conglomerate, to winde vp on bottomes.
1659. H. More, Immort. Soul, III. xiii. (1662), 203. This suggests … the fancy … to the Silk-worm of conglomerating her both funeral and natal Clue.
† 2. To form into a ball or (more or less) rounded mass; to heap up, heap together. ? Obs.
1596. R. L[inche], Diella (1877), 74. My sighes doe so conglomerate the cloudes.
1635. Swan, Spec. M., V. ii. § 11.
1650. J. Bulwer, Anthropomet., ii. (1653), 71. Choakt up with … dust, conglomerated into dirt.
1674. Grew, Anat. Plants, III. II. iv. § 2. The Viscera of an Animal, are but vessels conglomerated.
fig. 1767. A. Campbell, Lexiph. (1774), 6. Consider well how I have conglomerated this atchievement of erudition.
3. To collect (separate particles or elements) into a coherent mass. lit. and fig.
a. 1691, 1882. [see CONGLOMERATED].
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), III. 502. Because the Nobility and Clergy are conglomerated into one mass with the People.
1865. F. Oakeley, Tractar. Movement, 77. To conglomerate and cement the various forms of Tractarianism into something like a consistent whole.
4. intr. To come together or collect into a (more or less) rounded mass, or (transf.) into a compact body; to cluster together.
1642. Ord. & Declar. both Houses, Lords Day, 7. They conglomerated and gathered together to the number of 20 or 25.
1656. S. Holland, Zara (1719), 48. Such noise as Bees commonly make when they conglomerate.
1795. St. Papers, in Ann. Reg., 189. Their armies have conglomerated.
1838. T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 554. When put into boiling water it conglomerates into a resinous mass.
Hence Conglomerated ppl. a., clustered, etc.; spec. in Phys. and Geol. = CONGLOMERATE a. 2, 4
1656. S. Holland, Zara (1719), 79. My conglomerated Curses go with thee.
a. 1691. Boyle, Wks. (1772), II. 81 (R.). Conglomerated shells.
1701. Grew, Cosm. Sacra, I. v. § 21. The Liver, is one great Conglomerated Gland, composed of innumerable small Glands.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., Kidney, a Conglomerated Gland.
1816. Scott, Bl. Dwarf, vi. Watching the clouds as they lowered above each other in masses of conglomerated vapour.
1882. Geikie, Text-bk. Geol., II. i. § 3. Conglomerated (conglomeratic), made up of well-rounded pebbles or rocks.
