meld

1 of 4

verb (1)

melded; melding; melds

transitive verb

: to declare or announce (a card or combination of cards) for a score in a card game especially by placing face up on the table

intransitive verb

: to declare a card or combination of cards as a meld

meld

2 of 4

noun (1)

: a card or combination of cards that is or can be melded in a card game

meld

3 of 4

verb (2)

melded; melding; melds
: merge, blend
Cook the sauce slowly to let the flavors meld.

meld

4 of 4

noun (2)

: blend, mixture
a meld of Christian and Jewish customs

Did you know?

As a verb used when things are blending or being blended together, meld dates only to the first half of the 20th century. In its early days, the word attracted some unfavorable attention. Those who didn't like it tended to perceive it as a misuse of an older meld meaning "to declare or announce (a card or cards) for a score in a card game" (such as pinochle or gin rummy). But the more recent meld, a blend of melt and weld, was an entirely new coinage suggesting a smooth and thorough blending of two or more things into a single, homogeneous whole. The word is no longer controversial.

Examples of meld in a Sentence

Verb (2) a cuisine that melds East and West into strikingly original flavor combinations Noun (2) her music is a meld of various styles
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.
Verb
The spa-channeling fragrance melds notes of ylang-ylang, lemon, and eucalyptus with plant and flower essences. Jenny Berg, Allure, 20 Nov. 2024 No vehicle melds craftsmanship and technology, comfort and performance better. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
But any hopes for a parent-child meld are strictly one-sided. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 21 June 2024 The potent single — a meld of regional Mexican music, pop and subtle trap beats — highlighted both artists’ unique strengths and complementary styles. Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019 See all Example Sentences for meld 

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

German melden to announce, from Old High German meldōn; akin to Old English meldian to announce, Lithuanian malda prayer

Noun (1)

derivative of meld entry 1

Verb (2)

blend of melt and weld

Noun (2)

derivative of meld entry 3

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1887, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (1)

1887, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1919, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1954, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of meld was in 1887

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Dictionary Entries Near meld

Cite this Entry

“Meld.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meld. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

meld

1 of 2 verb
: merge sense 1, blend
the vocals meld perfectly with the instrumental accompaniment

meld

2 of 2 noun
: blend entry 2 sense 1, mixture
a meld of new and old ideas

More from Merriam-Webster on meld

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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