amalgam. A mixture of different elements or ingredients that have been merged into a single body as a physical mixture, rather than a chemical compound. Concrete is an example of an amalgam of sand, portland cement, and gravel.
amalgamate. To combine or join ingredients to form a single body.
amateur-built aircraft. Aircraft built by individuals as a hobby rather than by factories as commercial
products. Amateur-built, or homebuilt, aircraft are not required to meet the stringent requirements imposed
on FAA-certificated commercially built aircraft.

amber. A hard, yellowish, translucent, fossilized tree resin that is currently used to make small ornaments. Centuries ago it was discovered that when a piece of amber was rubbed with wool, it attracted small bits of straw and was thus one of the materials used in early studies of electricity. ambient. Surrounding. ambient air. Air that surrounds an object. ambient air pressure. The pressure of the air that surrounds an object. ambient air temperature. The temperature of the air surrounding an object.
ambient light. The visible light that falls on a surface.
ambiguity. Not having a clear meaning. In radio navigation, 180° ambiguity is an error inherent in some of
the simpler types of direction finding equipment. Because of this error, the equipment does not show