melt

1 of 3

verb

melted; melting; melts

intransitive verb

1
: to become altered from a solid to a liquid state usually by heat
2
a
: dissolve, disintegrate
the sugar melted in the coffee
b
: to disappear as if by dissolving
her anger melted at his kind words
3
obsolete : to become subdued or crushed (as by sorrow)
4
: to become mild, tender, or gentle
5
: to lose outline or distinctness : blend

transitive verb

1
: to reduce from a solid to a liquid state usually by heat
2
: to cause to disappear or disperse
3
: to make tender or gentle : soften
meltability noun
meltable adjective
melter noun

melt

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
a
: material in the molten state
b
: the mass melted at a single operation or the quantity melted during a specified period
2
a
: the action or process of melting or the period during which it occurs
the spring melt
b
: the condition of being melted
3
: a sandwich with melted cheese
a tuna melt

melt

3 of 3

noun (2)

: spleen
especially : spleen of slaughtered animals for use as feed or food

Examples of melt in a Sentence

Verb The butter melted in the frying pan. The snow is finally melting. She melted butter in the frying pan. a tablespoon of melted butter Their determination melted in the face of opposition. She melted at his kindly words. Her heart melted with compassion.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
These gravitational tugs heat the inside of a moon, melting ice into liquid water. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 The point of entry is a street kid named Melody Parker, who gets caught up in the WTO protests in Seattle in 1999 and follows a creature called Echo into a vortex where memory, history, music and perception begin to melt together. Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
Make Sugar Mixture In a medium saucepan heat and stir brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup over medium-low heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves, stirring constantly, about 10 minutes. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2024 Light a Candle, Wax Melt, or Air Diffuser One of the quickest ways to mask a smelly odor is to light a candle, turn on a wax melt, or air diffuser. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for melt 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English meltan; akin to Old Norse melta to digest, Greek meldein to melt — more at mollify

Noun (2)

Middle English milte, from Old English; akin to Old High German miltzi spleen

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun (1)

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of melt was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near melt

Cite this Entry

“Melt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melt. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

melt

1 of 2 verb
1
: to change from a solid to a liquid state usually through heat
melt butter
snow melts
2
: dissolve sense 1
the sugar melted in the coffee
3
: to grow less : disappear
clouds melting away
4
: to make or become gentle : soften
a warm smile melts the heart
5
: to lose clear outline or shape : blend, merge
melter noun

melt

2 of 2 noun
: a melted substance

More from Merriam-Webster on melt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!