1 melt
Pronounced:
/ˈmɛlt/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
melts; melt·ed; melt·ingMeaning:
1 : to change or to cause (something) to change from a solid to a liquid usually because of heat [no obj] ▪ The butter melted in the frying pan. ▪ The snow is finally melting. [+ obj] ▪ She melted butter in the frying pan. ▪ a tablespoon of melted butter ▪ melted cheese
2 [no obj] : to gradually become less or go away : disappear ▪ Their determination melted in the face of opposition. —often + away ▪ Her anger melted away when she saw that he was truly sorry. ▪ As the sun rose the fog began to melt away.
3 : to begin to have feelings of love, kindness, sympathy, etc. [no obj] ▪ She melted at his kindly words. ▪ Her heart melted with compassion. [+ obj] ▪ It would have melted your heart [=it would have filled you with compassion, sympathy, etc.] to see her lying in that hospital bed.
2 [no obj] : to gradually become less or go away : disappear ▪ Their determination melted in the face of opposition. —often + away ▪ Her anger melted away when she saw that he was truly sorry. ▪ As the sun rose the fog began to melt away.
3 : to begin to have feelings of love, kindness, sympathy, etc. [no obj] ▪ She melted at his kindly words. ▪ Her heart melted with compassion. [+ obj] ▪ It would have melted your heart [=it would have filled you with compassion, sympathy, etc.] to see her lying in that hospital bed.
butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth —see 1butter
melt down [phrasal verb]
1 a of a nuclear reactor : to heat up accidentally, melt, and release radiation ▪ The reactor's core melted down. b : to experience a very fast collapse or failure ▪ The stock market has melted down. —see also meltdown
2 melt (something) down or melt down (something) : to melt (something) so that it can be used for another purpose ▪ melt down a coin ▪ The stolen gold has probably already been melted down.
2 melt (something) down or melt down (something) : to melt (something) so that it can be used for another purpose ▪ melt down a coin ▪ The stolen gold has probably already been melted down.
melt into [phrasal verb]
melt into (something) : to become difficult or impossible to see by changing into or becoming combined with (something else) ▪ The colors in the painting melt into one another. ▪ Her frown melted into a smile. ▪ She melted into [=disappeared into] the crowd. ▪ He seemed to melt into thin air. [=he seemed to disappear]
melt in your mouth
◊Food that melts in your mouth is delicious and feels soft or becomes soft when you put it in your mouth. ▪ chocolate candies that melt in your mouth ▪ The fish practically melts in your mouth.