melt
- 01 A2 Elementary
v.to turn from a solid into a liquid because of heat.
v.to undergo a phase change from a solid to a liquid state through the application of heat.
Simple“The ice cream started to melt quickly in the hot summer sun.”
In context“As the temperature rose above freezing, the thick layer of permafrost began to melt, creating significant challenges for the local infrastructure.”
UsageCan be used with or without a direct object.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to slowly disappear or fade away.
v.to blend into surroundings or vanish gradually from sight.
Simple“The crowd began to melt away once the music stopped playing.”
In context“The morning mist slowly melted into the horizon as the sun climbed higher, revealing the jagged peaks of the mountain range.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to become more kind or less angry.
v.to become emotionally softened, sympathetic, or less resistant.
Simple“His heart melted when he saw the puppy's sad eyes.”
In context“Her initial coldness began to melt as she realised that his apology was genuinely sincere and deeply felt.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
n.a hot sandwich that contains melted cheese.
n.a sandwich served hot with a layer of melted cheese, often combined with tuna or ham.
Simple“I ordered a tuna melt and a side of fries for lunch.”
In context“The diner is famous for its sourdough patty melt, which features caramelised onions and a generous portion of Swiss cheese.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.a person who is acting silly, weak, or annoying.
n.a derogatory term for a person perceived as foolish, pathetic, or overly emotional.
Simple“Stop acting like a melt and just talk to her.”
In context“He was being a total melt on the reality show, crying over every minor disagreement with the other contestants.”
Teacher's tipThis term gained significant popularity in the UK through reality television in the late 2010s.
“As the Arctic atmosphere warms, more sea ice melts.”
“They could instead have formed when sections of the ice shell melted locally.”
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.