malt

1 of 3

noun

ˈmȯlt 

1

: grain (such as barley) softened by steeping in water, allowed to germinate, and used especially in brewing and distilling

2

: malt liquor

3

: malted milk

malty

ˈmȯl-tē 

adjective

malt

2 of 3

verb

malted; malting; malts

transitive verb

1

: to convert into malt

2

: to make or treat with malt or malt extract

intransitive verb

1

: to become malt

2

: to make grain into malt

malty

3 of 3

adjective

ˈmȯltē 

-ti

-er/-est

1

: containing or resembling malt

2

: addicted to malt liquor

Examples of malt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While other early craft breweries were chasing the next big IPA, Sudwerk planted a flag for clean, traditional, malt-forward lagers — and helped pioneer the Northern California craft scene in the process. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 21 June 2026

Examples of beers that might benefit from aging include some stouts, and beers with higher ABV (alcohol by volume) that are made with dark malts. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 20 June 2026

Verb

This is also made from 100 percent malted rye, but the grain has not been smoked, and it’s aged in ex-bourbon and French oak casks. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 16 June 2026

Every kernel of corn, rye, wheat, and barley that goes into a Frey Ranch whiskey is grown on the ranch, the barley malted on-site, milled, mashed, distilled, aged, and bottled within the same property. — Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English, from Old English mealt; akin to Old High German malz malt, Old English meltan to melt

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing malt

• malt liquor
• malt sugar
• malt whiskey
• single malt

Rhymes for malt

• alt
• fault
• gault
• halt
• sault
• vault
• walt
• asphalt
• assault
• basalt
• cobalt
• default

Kids Definition

malt

1 of 2 noun

ˈmȯlt 

1

: grain and especially barley steeped in water and used chiefly in brewing and distilling

2

: malted milk sense 2

malt adjective

malt

2 of 2 verb

1

: to convert into malt

2

: to make or treat with malt or malt extract

Medical Definition

malt

1 of 2 noun

ˈmȯlt 

: grain softened by steeping in water, allowed to germinate, and used especially in brewing and distilling

MALT

2 of 2 abbreviation

mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue