# melt

/ˈmɛɫt/ (US) · /mˈɛlt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/melt
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. solid to liquid

verb · CEFR A2

to turn from a solid into a liquid because of heat.

For teachers: to undergo a phase change from a solid to a liquid state through the application of heat.

- The ice cream started to melt quickly in the hot summer sun.
- As the temperature rose above freezing, the thick layer of permafrost began to melt, creating significant challenges for the local infrastructure.

Usage: Can be used with or without a direct object.

### 2. to disappear

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to slowly disappear or fade away.

For teachers: to blend into surroundings or vanish gradually from sight.

- The crowd began to melt away once the music stopped playing.
- The morning mist slowly melted into the horizon as the sun climbed higher, revealing the jagged peaks of the mountain range.

### 3. to soften feelings

verb · CEFR B2

to become more kind or less angry.

For teachers: to become emotionally softened, sympathetic, or less resistant.

- His heart melted when he saw the puppy's sad eyes.
- Her initial coldness began to melt as she realised that his apology was genuinely sincere and deeply felt.

### 4. hot sandwich

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a hot sandwich that contains melted cheese.

For teachers: a sandwich served hot with a layer of melted cheese, often combined with tuna or ham.

- I ordered a tuna melt and a side of fries for lunch.
- The diner is famous for its sourdough patty melt, which features caramelised onions and a generous portion of Swiss cheese.

### 5. an idiot

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang · Informal

a person who is acting silly, weak, or annoying.

For teachers: a derogatory term for a person perceived as foolish, pathetic, or overly emotional.

- Stop acting like a melt and just talk to her.
- He was being a total melt on the reality show, crying over every minor disagreement with the other contestants.

Teaching tip: This term gained significant popularity in the UK through reality television in the late 2010s.

## Examples

- The ice cream will melt if you leave it on the table.
- The spring sun began to melt the thick snow on the mountain peaks, causing the rivers to rise.
- As the global temperature continues to climb, polar ice caps melt at an accelerated rate, contributing significantly to the rise in sea levels across the planet.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.