From Middle English melten, from a merger of Old English meltan (intransitive) and mieltan (transitive), both meaning “to melt, digest,” from Proto-West Germanic *meltan and *maltijan, from Proto-Germanic *meltaną and *maltijaną, both from Proto-Indo-European *(s)meld- (“melt”). Cognate with Icelandic melta (“to digest”).
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) Molten material, the product of melting.
Users can see how a glacier at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania retreated between December 1986 and 2020, as well as glacial melt in Sermersooq, Greenland, between December 2000 and 2020. 2022 April 22, Toyin Owoseje, “Google marks Earth Day with doodle showing stark impacts of the climate crisis”, in CNN, archived from the original on 17 May 2022:
The crust (a mere 1% of the Earth's volume) is made of lighter melt products from the mantle. 2012, Chinle Miller, In Mesozoic Lands: The Mesozoic Geology of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Kindle edition:
(countable, uncountable) The transition of matter from a solid state to a liquid state.
(countable, uncountable) The springtime snow runoff in mountain regions.
(countable, uncountable) A melt sandwich.
I recently asked a group of people whether they had eaten tuna melts as a kid. Everyone remembered a version of this dish. 2002, Tod Dimmick, Complete idiot's guide to 20-minute meals:
(countable, uncountable) 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.
(countable, uncountable) A wax-based substance for use in an oil burner as an alternative to mixing oils and water.
(UK, countable, derogatory, slang, uncountable) A soft, soppy, or overly emotional person.
LOL! you fucking melt. Get a job. 2006 May 30, Dave G, “England vs Hungary...”, in alt.sports.soccer.everton (Usenet):
You are from Blackburn you fucking melt...have a bastard word with yourself. 2003 June 10, Roo, “See the Quality !!!”, in alt.sports.soccer.everton (Usenet):
Over the course of this chapter on 'Love Island Essentials' we'll be charting exactly who went with who, showing you around the villa, and equipping you with the vocabulary you'll need to avoid looking like a melt and get grafting like a true Islander. 2017, Love Island On Paper: The Official Love Island Guide to Grafting, Cracking On and Mugging Off, →ISBN, page 12:
Kiss it ya melt! 2004 September 20, Diablos Rojos, “North South divide??”, in uk.sport.football.clubs.liverpool (Usenet):
(UK, countable, derogatory, slang, uncountable) A centre-left or liberal person, when in opposition to a leftist; (especially) a critic of Jeremy Corbyn within the Labour Party.
Anyone who said different was a Tory, a melt or – worse – a Blairite. Centrists (mostly Labour voters) were the devil incarnate. 2019 December 17, Suzanne Moore, “Let Labour’s fightback begin with a woman as leader”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 31 Mar 2020:
They developed their own lexicon, with Corbyn critics referred to as 'melts' or 'slugs' while their man was lauded as 'the absolute boy'. [2019 October 17, Asa Bennett, Romanifesto: Modern Lessons from Classical Politics, Biteback Publishing, →ISBN:
(alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable) Alternative spelling of milt (“the semen of a male fish, used as food”).
A mass of herring melts, tinged with the streams of claret, had fallen into his hair, and this, added to his temporary stupor, had led to the Doctor's mistake. 1825, Lochandhu: A Tale of the Eighteenth Century, page 28:
From Middle English melten, from a merger of Old English meltan (intransitive) and mieltan (transitive), both meaning “to melt, digest,” from Proto-West Germanic *meltan and *maltijan, from Proto-Germanic *meltaną and *maltijaną, both from Proto-Indo-European *(s)meld- (“melt”). Cognate with Icelandic melta (“to digest”).
Meanings
(ergative) To change (or to be changed) from a solid state to a liquid state, usually by a gradual heat.
When the weather is warm, the snowman will disappear; he will melt.
I melted butter to make a cake.
(figuratively, intransitive) To dissolve, disperse, vanish.
His troubles melted away.
I gave him a couple of Advil and, after a few minutes, urged him back onto the track. Over the next few laps his pained expression slowly melted, although he still shuffled with a slight limp. 2008 October, Davy Rothbart, “How I caught up with dad”, in Men's Health, volume 23, number 8, →ISSN, page 110:
(ambitransitive, figuratively) 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.
He was very dubious at first, but I believe the fellow is genuine in his attachment to the house. His final scruple melted when he learned that I should not require him to sit up with me. 1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
For pity melts the mind to love. 1687, John Dryden, A Song for Cecilia's Day:
The traveller hears me now and then,
And sometimes harshly will he speak:
‘This fellow would make weakness weak,
And melt the waxen hearts of men.’ 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 35:
Thou would'st have […] melted down thy youth. c. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
(intransitive) To be discouraged.
(figuratively, intransitive) 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.
(colloquial, intransitive) To be very hot and sweat profusely.
to found (change from solid to liquid) · to thaw (change from solid to liquid)
Translations (191)
lt tirpti (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · sga legaid (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ms cair (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · he נמס (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · kmr helîn (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · de schmelzen (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · chr ᎬᎾᏬᏍᎦ (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · eo fandiĝi (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · acw انصهر (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ba эреү (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · lb schmëlzen (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ru раста́пливать (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · cmn 使熔化 (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · lv kausēt (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ga leáigh (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ta உருகு (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · el λιώνω (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · it fondere (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · sga legaid (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · mn хайлах (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · gv lheie (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · bg топя се (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · fi sulaa (to dissolve, disperse, vanish) · la liquefaciō (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ba иреү (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · hy թափել (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · os тайын (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ka დნობა (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · nl smelten (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · pl topnieć (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · pl rozpływać się (to be very hot and sweat profusely) · cic bila (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · sq shkrij (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · nci patla (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ar صَهَرَ (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · fa پخسیدن (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · de schmelzen lassen (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · az ərimək (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · fi sulaa (to soften, as by a warming or kindly influence) · yue 溶 (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ca fondre (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · fa گداختن (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ta உருக்கு (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ln nyangola (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · es derretirse (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · lt leistis (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · lv kust (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · is bræða (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · sq tret (to dissolve, disperse, vanish) · enm melten (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · bni nyangana (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · enm melten (to dissolve, disperse, vanish) · th ละลาย (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ml ഉരുകുക (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · alt эриир (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · lb zerlafen (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · nl laten smelten (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ru раста́ять (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · fi sulaa (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · bg намалявам (to dissolve, disperse, vanish) · fi sulattaa (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · tl malusaw (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · fy smelten (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ro topi (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ru растопи́ть (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · grc τήκω (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · cmn 使融化 (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · grc τήκομαι (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · hu olvaszt (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ca liquar (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · gd leagh (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · es licuar (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ko 녹이다 (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · kw teudhi (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · uz yog’moq (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ba эретеү (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · pt derreter (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · sv smälta (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ltg laydinuot (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · fi läkähtyä (to be very hot and sweat profusely) · vi tan (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · he התיך (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · az əritmək (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · vi tan chảy (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · gl fundir (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · acw ساح (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · eve ун- (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · gl derreter (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · el τήκω (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · gld ун- (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · el λιώνω (to dissolve, disperse, vanish) · ru та́ять (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · enm relenten (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ang mieltan (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · da smelte (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · gu ઓગળવું (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ang meltan (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · fr faire fondre (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · la liquō (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ca fondre's (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · eo fandi (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · sh otopiti (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · hu olvad (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · pl topić się (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ru расплавля́ть (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · pt derreter (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · gd leagh (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · cs tavit (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ba эреү (to soften, as by a warming or kindly influence) · mt dewweb (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ka დადნობა (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ja 溶ける (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ia funder (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · is bráðna (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ba иреү (to soften, as by a warming or kindly influence) · pl topić się (to be very hot and sweat profusely) · et sulama (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · cmn 融化 (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ba иретеү (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · no smelte (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ca liqüefer (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · izh sullaa (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · cic biliili (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · sq shkrij (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ru распла́виться (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · fr fondre (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · sv smälta (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · vi nóng chảy (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · da smelte (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · cy toddi (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · he ניתך (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ka ლღობა (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · th ละลาย (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ga leáigh (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · tl tunawin (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · pl stopić się (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · enm relenten (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ckb توانەوە (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · kw teudha (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ar ذَابَ (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · enm melten (to soften, as by a warming or kindly influence) · el λιώνω (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · cmn 熔化 (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ar أَذَابَ (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · pl topić (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · eu urtu (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · bg топя (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · oc fondre (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · as গলা (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · te కరిగించు (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · pl stopnieć (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ms lebur (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · cs tát (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · pl stapiać (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ko 녹다 (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · izh sulattaa (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · mi whakarewa (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · it liquare (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · tr erimek (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · chr ᎬᎾᏬᏗᎭ (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · pl roztopić (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · pl roztapiać (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · es derretir (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ru распла́вить (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · kl aattoq (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ru пла́виться (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · nap squaglià (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · as গলোৱা (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ar انْصَهَرَ (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · nci pati (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · es fundirse (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · yue 溶化 (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · hy ձուլել (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · evn ун- (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · pt fundir (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · hy հալել (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · fr se dissoudre (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ltg laistīs (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · qu unuyay (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ba бешеү (to be very hot and sweat profusely) · pt liquefazer (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · he המס (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · mnc ᠸᡝᠮᠪᡳ (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · tl matunaw (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · km រលាយ (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · ml ഉരുക്കുക (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · ja 溶かす (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid) · kmr helandin (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · la liquescō (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · it sciogliere (intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid) · enm melten (transitive: to change something from a solid to a liquid)