Melt
/mɛlt/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo change from a solid to a liquid state, usually due to heat.
/mɛlt/
To become liquid or cause to become liquid, typically by heating.
The snow will melt if the temperature gets above freezing.
💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite ice cream sitting out on a hot day. The ice cream *melts*, meaning it turns from a solid into a gooey, drippy mess. It's like when your favorite chocolate bar gets soft in your hand!
👶 For kids: When something that is solid turns into a liquid because it gets warm, we say it *melts*. Like when a crayon gets soft in the sun!
More Examples
She melted the butter in a pan before adding the vegetables.
The wax melted and dripped onto the table.
How It's Used
"The ice cream melted in the sun."
"The scientist heated the metal until it melted."
To gradually disappear or become weaker.
/mɛlt/
To dissipate gradually; fade away.
His initial resistance slowly melted.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, when something is strong like a wall, it can *melt* down or fade away. Think of a big argument – as people calm down, the anger starts to 'melt' away. Or like how a scary feeling disappears when you feel safe again.
👶 For kids: When something like a frown goes away, it's like it's *melting* away! Gone!
More Examples
The tension between them began to melt after they talked.
The crowd melted away when the rain started.
How It's Used
"His anger began to melt away."
"Her resolve melted at the sight of the crying child."
The process of a solid becoming liquid through heat or another process.
/mɛlt/
The process or act of melting.
The increased temperatures caused a rapid melt of the polar ice caps.
💡 Simply: The *melt* is the moment when something becomes liquid, like the ice in your drink starting to turn into water. Or like when the metal is inside a furnace.
👶 For kids: The *melt* is when something changes from solid to liquid. Like when ice turns into water.
More Examples
They studied the effects of the melt on the surrounding environment.
The technician controlled the speed of the metal's melt.
How It's Used
"The geologist studied the melt of the glaciers."
"The metal was processed through a melt."
Synonyms & Antonyms
From Old English *meltan*, from Proto-Germanic *meltaną*. Related to words meaning 'to become soft or fluid through heat'.
The word 'melt' has been used since Old English to describe the process of becoming liquid due to heat. It's a basic and fundamental term related to the changes in the physical state of matter. The word 'melt' is a Germanic root found across many related languages.
Memory tip
Think of a candle melting: heat makes the solid wax turn into a liquid.
Word Origin
"To make soft, to dissolve; related to the change from solid to liquid through the influence of heat or a change in the physical state of matter."