On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 13:56:15 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

I'd always thought an alloy was a mixture of metals. Seems some
dictionaries reckon it's just a metal mixed with anything.

Not just anything - carbon and silicon (and a few others) are honorary
metals in this case. As carbon and iron are mutually soluble, then
steel is an alloy.

The definition of "alloy" depends on what period you're talking about,
and what industry. Throughout the 19th century the question of
whether steel was truly an alloy or not (and where the carbon was
hiding) flip-flopped both ways.

--
Smert' spamionam