melt

USAGE SUMMARY

'melt' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it in the context of a substance becoming liquid from solid due to an increase in temperature, or to describe a feeling of deep emotion. Example sentence: The snow melted when the sun came out.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"When we have something this big on the horizon, everybody comes in for the ice melt, snow shovels, snow brooms".

The Guardian

Overwhelmingly, my desire was to melt in, not to disappear but just feel … well, less obvious.

The Guardian - Opinion

As the chocolate roasts, it will first melt, then begin to separate, then go gravelly.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Put the butter and 400g of the chocolate into a heatproof bowl over a pan of lightly simmering water and leave to melt slowly.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When the chocolate is half melted, turn the heat off and nudge the solid parts into the melted parts, letting it continue to melt in the residual heat.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Paneer won't melt like cheddar, but it makes an interesting alternative here.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We headed south-west through the village of Ouirgane, where the tourist trail begins to melt away.

The Guardian - Travel

7 Once the biscuits are ready, melt the white chocolate in a heavy bowl propped over a pan of simmering water.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Homemade or not, I don't think frying the cheese is as optional as Toombs suggests – given that, in his words, it makes the paneer "melt in your mouth crispy on the outside and nice and warm in the centre", why wouldn't you?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Cookeathope, via GuardianWitness Serves 6-8 125g raw virgin solid coconut oil 3-4 tbsp honey 125g desiccated coconut 2 ripe bananas 60g cocoa powder 1 ripe mango, peeled and thinly sliced 2 ripe passionfruit, pulped 1 In a small saucepan, gently melt 50g of oil.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Everyone appreciates effort so if men do appear to melt before her, I think it's probably because they can see the feverish lengths she is going to, to look as if she fancies them, and the ludicrousness of it melts their hearts a little bit, even Sugar's.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing emotional responses, consider using "melt" to convey a sense of being deeply touched or moved. This adds vividness to your writing.

Common error

In scientific writing, be precise. Don't use "melt" loosely for processes like dissolving or sublimation. Reserve it for phase transitions from solid to liquid.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "melt" is as a verb, describing the process of changing from a solid to a liquid state, or metaphorically, a softening of emotions. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Lifestyle

30%

Travel

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

10%

Opinion

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "melt" is a versatile term primarily functioning as a verb, denoting the transition from a solid to a liquid state or a metaphorical softening. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage across diverse contexts. This guide, enriched with real-world examples from reputable sources such as The Guardian and The Economist, elucidates the nuances of using "melt" effectively. While frequently encountered in news, lifestyle, and travel writing, "melt" maintains a neutral register suitable for both scientific and informal discourse. To enhance clarity, especially in technical writing, it is crucial to reserve "melt" specifically for phase transitions, avoiding its misuse in broader dissolution or sublimation contexts. Semantically related terms include "dissolve" and "liquefy" offering similar but distinct connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become liquid

Directly states the change of state to a liquid form.

liquefy

Specifically refers to the process of becoming liquid.

thaw

Emphasizes the reversal of freezing, specifically by warming.

dissolve

Focuses on the disappearance of a substance into a liquid.

soften

Focuses on becoming less rigid or hard, sometimes metaphorically.

fuse

Describes the process of joining or blending together by heating.

fade away

Implies a gradual disappearance, often of something intangible.

degrade

Indicates a gradual breaking down or disintegration.

vanish

Highlights the complete disappearance of something.

deliquesce

Refers to the process of a solid absorbing moisture from the air and dissolving into a liquid.

FAQs

How is "melt" used in a sentence?

The word "melt" can describe the transition of a solid to a liquid, as in "The ice began to melt in the sun." It can also describe a softening of emotions, as in "His kind words made her heart melt."

What are synonyms for "melt"?

Synonyms include "dissolve", "liquefy", and "thaw" when referring to physical changes. For emotional contexts, consider "soften" or "yield".

Is it correct to say "I'm melting" when I'm hot?

Yes, "I'm melting" is an informal and often humorous way to express that you are very hot and sweating profusely.

What is the difference between "melt" and "dissolve"?

"Melt" refers specifically to a change in state from solid to liquid due to heat. "Dissolve", however, means to disperse or disappear into a liquid, which doesn't always involve a change of state. For example, sugar dissolves in water, but it doesn't melt.