melt

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English meltan; akin to Old Norse melta to digest, Greek meldein to melt — more at mollify Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. to become altered from a solid to a liquid state usually by heat 2. a. dissolve, disintegrate <

the sugar melted in the coffee

> b. to disappear as if by dissolving <

her anger melted at his kind words

> 3. obsolete to become subdued or crushed (as by sorrow) 4. to become mild, tender, or gentle 5. to lose outline or distinctness ; blend transitive verb 1. to reduce from a solid to a liquid state usually by heat 2. to cause to disappear or disperse 3. to make tender or gentle ; soften • meltability noun • meltable adjective • melter noun II. noun Date: 1847 1. a. material in the molten state b. the mass melted at a single operation or the quantity melted during a specified period 2. a. the action or process of melting or the period during which it occurs <

the spring melt

> b. the condition of being melted 3. a sandwich with melted cheese <

a tuna melt

> III. noun Etymology: Middle English milte, from Old English; akin to Old High German miltzi spleen Date: before 12th century spleen; especially spleen of slaughtered animals for use as feed or food