Agregatai

Agregatai is the Lithuanian term for aggregates or aggregate formations, used across several disciplines to describe collections of individual elements that function as a single unit. In everyday technical language, the word can refer to natural or manufactured assemblies that are treated as a whole for analysis or use. The form agregatai is the plural; the singular is agregatas.

In geology and mineralogy, agregatai describe cohesive masses composed of smaller grains or crystals. Such aggregates can form through natural processes like cementation, compaction, or mineral crystallization. They are used to characterize rocks and soils by properties such as texture, grain size, and bonding, and they help distinguish between loose accumulations and more compact, coherent materials.

In civil engineering and construction, aggregates denote inert granular materials used as fillers or bases in buildings, roads, and concrete. Common examples include sand, gravel, and crushed stone. The performance of aggregate materials depends on factors like size distribution (grading), shape, density, porosity, and absorption, all of which influence strength, workability, and drainage in a finished product.

In data analysis and information processing, agregatai can refer to aggregated data or summary values produced from detailed records, such as sums, means, counts, or other statistics computed for groups or time periods. This use aligns with the general concept of combining multiple elements to form a representative whole.

Etymology traces the term to Latin aggregatus, with cognates in several languages. Related concepts include aggregation, aggregate materials, and aggregated data. See also aggregate (disambiguation) for broader usage.