fuse

1 of 2

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

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.

The plate was heated. This caused the mercury to evaporate and allowed the gold to fuse to the copper.

—Calliope

fuse

2 of 2

verb (2)

ˈfyüz 

variants or less commonly fuze

fused also fuzed; fusing also fuzing

transitive verb

: to equip with a fuse

Synonyms of fuse

Verb (1)

• combine
• connect

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

His bed, the Authenticity, fuses the designer’s West African heritage with British craftsmanship. —Mary Wenthur, Footwear News, 3 June 2026

Helphenstein, the owner of a Los Angeles gallery, launched the Instagram account Jerry Gogosian in 2018, fusing the names of renowned art critic Jerry Saltz and megallerist Larry Gagosian. —News Desk, Artforum, 1 June 2026

Heavily involved in the design of her Nike outfits, Osaka loves to fuse fashion with tennis. —Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026

His work fuses soccer and Mexican identity to showcase his country’s culture beyond its borders. —ABC News, 30 May 2026

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.

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

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

Rhymes for fuse

• blues
• boos
• booze
• brews
• bruise
• chews
• choose
• chuse
• clews
• clues
• coups
• crews

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