fuse

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈfyüz 

fused; fusing

transitive verb

1

: to reduce to a liquid or plastic state by heat

the thunderstorm had fused the electric mains

—C. K. Finlay

2

: to blend thoroughly by or as if by melting together : combine

Particles are fused to form a new compound.

3

: to stitch by applying heat and pressure with or without the use of an adhesive

intransitive verb

1

a

: to become fluid with heat

acetate rayon tends to fuse if pressed at too high a temperature

—W. L. Carmichael

b

British : to fail because of the blowing of a fuse

2

: to become blended or joined by or as if by melting together

Dreams fuse with reality in her latest film.

fuse

2 of 4

noun (1)

: an electrical safety device consisting of or including a wire or strip of fusible metal that melts and interrupts the circuit when the current exceeds a particular amperage

fuse

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

: a continuous train of a combustible substance enclosed in a cord or cable for setting off an explosive charge by transmitting fire to it

2

or less commonly fuze : a mechanical or electrical detonating device for setting off the bursting charge of a projectile, bomb, or torpedo

fuse

4 of 4

verb (2)

ˈfyüz 

variants or less commonly fuze

fused also fuzed; fusing also fuzing

transitive verb

: to equip with a fuse

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• associate
• coalesce
• combine
• conjoin
• conjugate
• connect
• couple
• interfuse
• join
• link (up)
• marry
• unify
• unite

Choose the Right Synonym for fuse

mix, mingle, commingle, blend, merge, coalesce, amalgamate, fuse mean to combine into a more or less uniform whole.

mix may or may not imply loss of each element's identity.

mix the salad greens

mix a drink

mingle usually suggests that the elements are still somewhat distinguishable or separately active.

fear mingled with anticipation in my mind

commingle implies a closer or more thorough mingling.

a sense of duty commingled with a fierce pride drove her

blend implies that the elements as such disappear in the resulting mixture.

blended several teas to create a balanced flavor

merge suggests a combining in which one or more elements are lost in the whole.

in his mind reality and fantasy merged

coalesce implies an affinity in the merging elements and usually a resulting organic unity.

telling details that coalesce into a striking portrait

amalgamate implies the forming of a close union without complete loss of individual identities.

refugees who were readily amalgamated into the community

fuse stresses oneness and indissolubility of the resulting product.

a building in which modernism and classicism are fused

Examples of fuse in a Sentence

Verb (1)

our two local teams fused into a larger regional team

the lightning strike was so hot it caused the electrical wires to fuse and then drip onto the road

the many foundries would daily fuse copper and zinc to create the brass that made the city famous

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Blanchard’s signature style is filled with high-end designer pieces from Saint Laurent fused with lower-end items by COS. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 21 May 2024

Your penchant to take risks is amplified as Mars fuses with the North Node. —USA TODAY, 19 May 2024

Instead of making any distinction between film and TV efforts, the two were fused and then broken up by genre: action, comedy, young adult, unscripted, sci-fi and fantasy and sports. —Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 May 2024

Later, as oocytes mature, ELVAs fuse together, relocate and ramp up their degradative machinery. —Quanta Magazine, 13 May 2024

Familiar songs from the film will be used to tell the story along with original compositions fusing zydeco music and jazz. —Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2024

Accessed through a gated entry, the five-story abode seamlessly fuses historic charm with modern luxury across its 5,750 square feet of living space. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 May 2024

This interdisciplinary approach has led to the emergence of new forms of art, design, and media that fuse conventional disciplines with cutting-edge technologies. —Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 9 May 2024

Apple says its new display technology is called Tandem OLED, which is comprised of two OLED layers fused together. —Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 7 May 2024

Noun

And sometimes the bomb was just a naked stick of dynamite with a fuse simple enough to be lit with the strike of a match, ready to be flung into an unsuspecting crowd. —Steven Johnson, New York Times, 17 May 2024

Blackbeard supposedly lit fuses in his beard when approaching enemy prizes, looking like a demon straight out of hell. —Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2024

Some of those fuses have also been mistaken for canned food, as famine spreads across Gaza. —Anas Baba, NPR, 13 May 2024

Both the museum exhibit and the gala theme fuse elements of fashion and nature to represent the transitions of life and the changing nature of fashion. —TIME, 6 May 2024

Therefore, the downsizing of the corporate tenant population has a long fuse yet to burn. —David Marino, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024

Some also question whether a fuse will reliably solve the brake fluid leak. —Tom Krisher, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024

Just one fuse will be added per vehicle, but both automakers said many types of new fuses are needed to cover all models. —Tom Krisher, Quartz, 1 Apr. 2024

That’s why Curry blew his fuse after Draymond’s early-game ejection. —Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

borrowed from Middle French fuser "to cause to melt," verb derivative from Medieval Latin fūsus, past participle of fundere "to cast (metal), melt down, make liquid," going back to Latin, "to pour, shed, cast (liquid metal)" — more at found entry 5

Note: Though "to melt, make liquid" is a primary sense of Medieval Latin fundere (and its Romance progeny, as French fondre), this meaning is only marginally attested in Classical Latin and may have originally been a technical sense used by metalworkers.

Noun (1)

derivative of fuse entry 1

Noun (2)

probably shortening of fusee in sense "fuse"

Note: The hypothesis that the word was borrowed from Italian fuso "spindle" appears to be without foundation. There is no evidence for the use of fuso in Italian in the sense "train of combustible material," the corresponding word being spoletta; note that spoletta in Tomaso Moretti's Trattato dell'Artiglieria (Venice, 1665) is rendered indiscriminately as both fuse and fusee in the English translation by Jonas Moore (A General Treatise of Artillery, London, 1683).

Verb (2)

derivative of fuse entry 2 or fuse entry 3

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1592, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1868, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1802, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fuse

• be on/have a short fuse
• blow a fuse
• fuse box
• proximity fuse
• short fuse

Kids Definition

fuse

1 of 4 verb

fused; fusing

1

: to change into a liquid or plastic state by heat

2

: to become fluid with heat

3

: to unite by or as if by melting together

fuse

2 of 4 noun

: an electrical safety device having a metal wire or strip that melts and interrupts the circuit when the current becomes too strong

fuse

3 of 4 noun

ˈfyüz

1

: a cord or cable that is set afire to ignite an explosive charge by carrying fire to it

2

also fuze : a mechanical or electrical device for setting off the explosive charge of an artillery shell, bomb, or torpedo

fuse

4 of 4 verb

variants also fuze

fused also fuzed; fusing also fuzing

: to equip with a fuse

Etymology

Verb

from Latin fusus past participle of fundere "to pour melted metal into a mold" — related to found entry 3

Noun

from Italian fuso "a slender tapering rod used for twisting yarn, spindle," from Latin fusus "spindle"

Medical Definition

fuse

verb

ˈfyüz 

fused; fusing

transitive verb

: to cause to undergo fusion

fuse a joint

intransitive verb

: to undergo fusion