malt

1 of 2

noun

ˈmȯlt 

1

: grain (such as barley) softened by steeping in water, allowed to germinate, and used especially in brewing and distilling

2

: malt liquor

3

: malted milk

malty

ˈmȯl-tē 

adjective

malt

2 of 2

verb

malted; malting; malts

transitive verb

1

: to convert into malt

2

: to make or treat with malt or malt extract

intransitive verb

1

: to become malt

2

: to make grain into malt

Examples of malt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Modern red ales are essentially adaptations of bitters from England, with less hops and more robust malt presence. —Em Sauter, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

Suburbs: Voyager, Ferndale's award-winning seafood restaurant, has a version of fish and chips on the menu: Yakutat halibut and malt vinegar frites for $31. —Joe Guillen, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025

Verb

The mash bill features 66.6% non-GMO corn, 11.4% winter rye, 10% winter wheat, and 12% two-row barley malted on-site. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025

Japanese producers achieve the same end by inoculating their grains — usually rice — with koji mold, which works faster and more efficiently than malting. —Clay Risen, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English mealt; akin to Old High German malz malt, Old English meltan to melt

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing malt

• malt liquor
• malt sugar
• malt whiskey
• single malt

Rhymes for malt

• alt
• fault
• gault
• halt
• sault
• vault
• walt
• asphalt
• assault
• basalt
• cobalt
• default

Kids Definition

malt

1 of 2 noun

ˈmȯlt 

1

: grain and especially barley steeped in water and used chiefly in brewing and distilling

2

: malted milk sense 2

malt adjective

malt

2 of 2 verb

1

: to convert into malt

2

: to make or treat with malt or malt extract

Medical Definition

malt

1 of 2 noun

ˈmȯlt 

: grain softened by steeping in water, allowed to germinate, and used especially in brewing and distilling

MALT

2 of 2 abbreviation

mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue