Definition of "melt" in English

verb

1. (ergative) To change (or to be changed) from a solid state to a liquid state, usually by a gradual heat.

   • I melted butter to make a cake.
   • When the weather is warm, the snowman will disappear; he will melt.

2. (intransitive, figuratively) To dissolve, disperse, vanish.

   • His troubles melted away.

3. (transitive, figurative) To soften, as by a warming or kindly influence; to relax; to render gentle or susceptible to mild influences; sometimes, in a bad sense, to take away the firmness of; to weaken.

4. (intransitive) To be discouraged.

5. (intransitive, figurative) To be emotionally softened or touched.

   • She melted when she saw the romantic message in the Valentine's Day card.
   • My heart melted when I first heard the song.

6. (intransitive, colloquial) To be very hot and sweat profusely.

   • I need shade! I'm melting!

noun

1. Molten material, the product of melting.

2. The transition of matter from a solid state to a liquid state.

3. The springtime snow runoff in mountain regions.

4. A melt sandwich.

5. (geology) Rock showing evidence of having been remelted after it originally solidified.

   • Numerous samples of breccia and impact melts were recovered by drilling into the floor of the crater.

6. A wax-based substance for use in an oil burner as an alternative to mixing oils and water.

7. (UK, slang, derogatory) An idiot.

8. (UK, politics, slang, derogatory) A centre-left or liberal person, when in opposition to a leftist; (especially) a critic of Jeremy Corbyn within the Labour Party.

9. Variant spelling of milt, the semen of a male fish, used as food.