*consolidate*

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Consolidated p. pr. & vb. n. Consolidating ] 1. To make solid; to unite or press together into a compact mass; to harden or make dense and firm. [ 1913 Webster ]

He fixed and consolidated the earth. T. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To unite, as various particulars, into one mass or body; to bring together in close union; to combine; as, to consolidate the armies of the republic. [ 1913 Webster ]

Consolidating numbers into unity. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Surg.) To unite by means of applications, as the parts of a broken bone, or the lips of a wound. [ R. ]

Syn. -- To unite; combine; harden; compact; condense; compress. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To grow firm and hard; to unite and become solid; as, moist clay consolidates by drying. [ 1913 Webster ]

In hurts and ulcers of the head, dryness maketh them more apt to consolidate. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. & a. 1. Made solid, hard, or compact; united; joined; solidified. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Aggregate Fund . . . consisted of a great variety of taxes and surpluses of taxes and duties which were [ in 1715 ] consolidated. Rees. [ 1913 Webster ]

A mass of partially consolidated mud. Tyndall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Having a small surface in proportion to bulk, as in the cactus. [ 1913 Webster ]

Consolidated plants are evidently adapted and designed for very dry regions; in such only they are found. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Consolidated Fund, a British fund formed by consolidating (in 1787) three public funds (the Aggregate Fund, the General Fund, and the South Sea Fund). In 1816, the larger part of the revenues of Great Britian and Ireland was assigned to what has been known as the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, out of which are paid the interest of the national debt, the salaries of the civil list, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Consolidated beforehand. [ 1913 Webster ]