melt

melt [melt]

vt., vi.

[ME melten < OE vi. meltan, vt. mieltan < IE * meld-, soft < base * mel-, to grind > MILL¹]

1. to change from a solid to a liquid state, generally by heat

2. to dissolve; disintegrate

3. to disappear or cause to disappear gradually: often with away

4. to merge gradually; blend [the sea melting into the sky]

5. to soften; make or become gentle and tender [a story to melt our hearts]

n.

1. a melting or being melted

2. something melted

3. the quantity melted at one operation or during one period

4. a dish, esp. a grilled sandwich, containing or covered with a layer of melted cheese [a tuna melt]

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melt down

to melt (previously formed metal) so that it can be cast or molded again

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melt in your mouth

1. to require little or no chewing: said of tender foods

2. to taste especially delicious

meltable

adj.

melter

n.

meltingly

adv.

SYN.- MELT implies the bringing of a substance from its solid to its liquid state, usually by heat [to melt butter ]; DISSOLVE refers specifically to the reduction of a solid to a liquid by placing it in another liquid so that its particles are evenly distributed among those of the solvent [to dissolve sugar in water ]; LIQUEFY is the general term meaning to change to a liquid state and may be applied to gases as well as solids; THAW implies the reducing of a frozen substance to its normal state, usually to a liquid or a semiliquid, by raising its temperature [the ice has thawed] -ANT. SOLIDIFY, FREEZE