Aggregates refers to materials or objects gathered into a whole; in geology or construction it denotes crushed or natural particles bound together, forming a composite. It can also describe a total or overall amount formed by combining multiple elements. The term is often used in technical or academic contexts to denote a collective mass or sum.
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"The aggregates used in the concrete mix came from crushed granite."
"Researchers analyzed the aggregates of data from multiple studies."
"The architectural plan specifies the aggregates to ensure the finish has the desired texture."
"In statistics, the aggregates of the sample were calculated to estimate population parameters."
Aggregates originates from the Latin word aggere, meaning heap or mound, with the agentive suffix -ate and the noun-forming -s in English. The core idea is to gather into a mass; the English verb aggregate means to bring together or form a whole. The earliest English usage is attested in the 16th century in mathematical and philosophical contexts, evolving through geology, materials science, and social statistics to denote a cohesive mass or sum of parts. The word passed into common scientific parlance by the 19th century as disciplines like geology and civil engineering formalized the concepts of aggregates (sand, gravel, crushed stone) and aggregate data. Modern usage spans economics, statistics, materials science, and ecology, always carrying the sense of multiple parts combined into a single unit. The plural aggregates emphasizes multiple masses or the total result of aggregation processes, though in some contexts it refers to multiple granular components, each with its own properties, but collectively forming a composite. The pronunciation and spelling have remained stable across major varieties of English, though some technical contexts retain the plural sense of “aggregate” as a mass or sum rather than the individual constituents.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "aggregates" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "aggregates"
-tes sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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You pronounce it as /ˈæɡrɪɡeɪts/ in US/UK/AU. The primary stress falls on the first syllable: AG-gre-gates. Break it into three parts: /ˈæ/ as in cat, /ɡrɪ/ as in grip with a soft g cluster, and /ɡeɪts/ as in gates with a long a. The middle syllable has a quick /ɪ/ plus /g/ release, and the final syllable ends with /ts/. Practicing by saying ‘AG-rih-gaits’ helps lock the rhythm. Listen to native glossaries for precise vowels, but this is the standard pronunciation across major varieties.
Common errors include turning the middle syllable into /ɪɡ/ with heavy stress, producing /ˈæɡrəɡeɪts/ with a reduced middle vowel, or flattening the final /ts/ into /s/. Another frequent misstep is misplacing the stress, sounding more like /ˈæɡrɪdʒeɪts/ where /dʒ/ replaces /ɡeɪ/. Correction: keep three distinct segments /ˈæɡ/ + /rɪ/ + /ɡeɪts/, maintain the clear /g/ after /r/, and end with a precise /ts/ blend. Recording helps ensure you’re not sliding into a smoother, less clipped ending.
Across US, UK, and AU, the word keeps /ˈæɡrɪɡeɪts/ with primary stress on the first syllable. Differences surface in vowel quality: US often has a fronter /æ/ and maybe more flapped or tense /æ/, UK maintains a slightly tighter /æ/ and crisp /eɪ/; AU is closer to UK in non-rhotic pronunciation and tends to maintain a fuller /eɪ/ in /eɪts/. The /r/ may be less pronounced in non-rhotic varieties, particularly UK and AU, affecting the /grɪ/ portion. Overall, the main rhythm remains three syllables with strong initial stress, but vowel qualities and rhoticity subtly color the sound.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable rhythm with a fast transition from /ɡrɪ/ to /ɡeɪts/, plus the final consonant blend /ts/ that can slip into /s/ or /t/. The cluster /gr/ after the initial /æ/ can create a momentary bottleneck for non-native speakers, and the third syllable /eɪts/ contains a diphthong that may slide. Focus on a clean /ˈæɡ/ onset, a crisp /rɪ/ middle, and a distinct /eɪts/ tail. Use controlled tempo, then speed up while maintaining precision.
A unique nuance is the pronunciation of the final -ates as /eɪts/, which can be misheard as /eɪz/ or /əz/ in fast speech. Emphasize the /eɪ/ vowel and the abrupt /ts/ ending, not a soft or voiced ending. In careful speech, you’ll hear the crisp voiceless /t/ followed by /s/; in rapid contexts this may blend, so practice the boundary by slowing slightly at the final segment and then returning to normal tempo.
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