v.
Pronunciation: ˌ k ō - ə - ' les
Function: verb
Inflected Form: co · a · lesced ; co · a · lesc · ing
Etymology: Latin coalescere, from co- + alescere to grow ― more at OLD
Date: circa 1656
intransitive verb
1 : to grow together
2 a : to unite into a whole : FUSE <separate townships have coalesced into a single, sprawling colony ― Donald Gould> b : to unite for a common end : join forces <people with different points of view coalesce into opposing factions ― I. L. Horowitz>
3 : to arise from the combination of distinct elements <an organized and a popular resistance immediately coalesced ― C. C. Menges>
transitive verb : to cause to unite <sometimes a book coalesce s a public into a mass market ― Walter Meade>
synonyms see MIX
– co · a · les · cence \ - ' le-s ə n(t)s \ noun
– co · a · les · cent \ -s ə nt \ adjective