malt

1 of 2

noun

1
: grain (such as barley) softened by steeping in water, allowed to germinate, and used especially in brewing and distilling
2
3
malty adjective

malt

2 of 2

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

Examples of malt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
At the same time, chef Ron Krivosik, Levy culinary senior vice president, tells me that the ‘70s were big on lemon ice and malt cups. Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 Ardbeg has been making peaty malt whisky since 1815 on the misty Isle of Islay in Scotland. Devorah Lev-Tov, AFAR Media, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
And the peas continue to be malted at Rabbit Hill Farms, making this portion of the pea supply entirely within New Jersey. Don Tse, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025 That’s measured in PPM, or parts per million, and some of the barley used to produce these whiskies has been malted to nearly 200 PPM—but there’s still nuance to the liquid. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for malt

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of malt was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Malt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malt. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

malt

1 of 2 noun
1
: grain and especially barley steeped in water and used chiefly in brewing and distilling
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
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on malt

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