| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | meltan |
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melt

1 if something solid melts or if heat melts it, it becomes liquid [↪ freeze, thaw]:
It was warmer now, and the snow was beginning to melt.
Melt the butter in a saucepan.
become liquid
[intransitive and transitive]
It was warmer now, and the snow was beginning to melt.
Melt the butter in a saucepan.2 to gradually disappear :
Opposition to the government melted away.
His anger slowly melted.
disappear
[intransitive] also melt away
Opposition to the government melted away.
His anger slowly melted.3 to become less angry and begin to feel more gentle and sympathetic :
She melted under his gaze.
become less angry
[intransitive]
She melted under his gaze.5 to allow someone to hold you in their arms and feel that you love them :
Closing her eyes, she melted into his embrace.
melt into somebody's arms/embrace
literary
Closing her eyes, she melted into his embrace.➔ butter wouldn't melt in somebody's mouth
at butter1 (2)melt away
phrasal verb1 if a crowd of people melts away, the people gradually leave :
The demonstrators melted away at the first sign of trouble.
The demonstrators melted away at the first sign of trouble.2 to gradually disappear :
Her determination to take revenge slowly melted away.
Her determination to take revenge slowly melted away.melt something ↔ down
phrasal verb
A lot of the gold was melted down and used for making jewellery.melt into something
phrasal verb1 to gradually change into something else :
Her irritation melted into pity.
Her irritation melted into pity.2 to gradually become hidden by something :
He is trying to melt into the background.
He is trying to melt into the background.