malt

1 of 2

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 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

Noun

The ban covers sparkling grape wine, malt beer, rice wine or sake, Irish and Scotch whiskies, and pisco and singani – as long as they are packaged. — Fritz Farrow, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026

The malt, in turn, gives the beer loads of malt flavors with caramel, chocolate and nutty, roasted notes. — Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 2 Sep. 2026

Verb

The other two are much younger—12 and 15-year-old single malts, both made from barley that was malted at the distillery’s own floor malting, and aged in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in sherry casks. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2026

The three-part blend is actually a bit more straightforward than 2025’s Headliner, which featured corn whiskey, bourbon, Balboa rye, standard New Riff rye, and Aroostook malted rye. — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

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

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