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fuse

n. · v.
US //ˈfjuz// UK //fjˈuːz// fuse
  1. 1 electrical safety (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Physics

    a small safety part in an electrical device that breaks the circuit if the power is too high.

    a safety device consisting of a strip of wire that melts and breaks an electric circuit if the current exceeds a safe level.

    Example

    The lights went out because a fuse blew in the kitchen.

    Example

    The technician replaced the blown fuse after identifying a short circuit in the industrial cooling unit.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the phrase 'to blow a fuse'.
  2. 2 explosive ignition (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Military

    a string or wire that carries fire to an explosive, like a bomb or firework.

    a cord, tube, or mechanical device used to convey fire or a detonating spark to an explosive charge.

    Example

    He lit the fuse and ran to a safe distance before the fireworks started.

    Example

    The demolition team carefully inspected the fuse to ensure the controlled explosion would occur exactly on schedule.
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  1. 3 temper (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    your ability to stay calm without getting angry.

    a person's tendency to lose their temper, typically used in the idiom 'short fuse'.

    Example

    Be careful what you say to him; he has a very short fuse.

    Example

    The manager was known for his short fuse, often reacting with disproportionate anger to minor administrative errors.
  2. 4 to join together (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to join two or more things together so they become one, often using heat.

    to join or blend different things into a single entity, often through melting or intense heat.

    Example

    The two companies decided to fuse their technology departments into one team.

    Example

    The artist used extreme heat to fuse glass and metal into a single, striking sculpture.
  3. 5 nuclear fusion (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    when atoms join together to create a lot of energy.

    to undergo or cause to undergo nuclear fusion, where atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus.

    Example

    Inside the sun, hydrogen atoms fuse together to create helium and light.

    Example

    Scientists are still working on a way to make atoms fuse in a controlled environment to produce clean energy.
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