The substance of a silver filling in teeth.

Back in the day, a large portion of the filling was tin. Modern dental amalgams are of the high-copper variety.

A*mal"gam (#), n. [F. amalgame, prob. fr. L. malagma, Gr. , emollient, plaster, poultice, fr. to make soft, fr. soft.]

1.

An alloy of mercury with another metal or metals; as, an amalgam of tin, bismuth, etc.

⇒ Medalists apply the term to soft alloys generally.

2.

A mixture or compound of different things.

3. Min.

A native compound of mercury and silver.

 

© Webster 1913.


A*mal"gam, v. t. i. [Cf. F. amalgamer]

To amalgamate.

Boyle. B. Jonson.

 

© Webster 1913.

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