alloy

(ăl′oy″ )

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( ă-loy′)
[Fr. aloyer, to combine]

1. A metal, e.g., brass, that is the fusion or mixture of two or more metals.
2. A metal, e.g., steel, that is the fusion or mixture of a metal and a nonmetal. In dentistry, several alloys are used to restore teeth. Alloys used to construct cast restorations are often gold- and copper-based alloys. Common so-called silver fillings are alloys of silver, copper, tin, and mercury. The silver-tin-mercury alloys are called amalgams.
SEE: dental amalgam

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