meld

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈmeld 

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.

Synonyms

Verb (2)

• amalgamate
• blend
• combine
• comingle
• commingle
• commix
• composite
• concrete
• conflate
• fuse
• homogenize
• immingle
• immix
• incorporate
• integrate
• interfuse
• intermingle
• intermix
• merge
• mingle
• mix

Noun (2)

• admixture
• alloy
• amalgam
• amalgamation
• blend
• cocktail
• combination
• composite
• compound
• conflation
• emulsion
• fusion
• intermixture
• mix
• mixture
• synthesis

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

Verb

During his time at the California College of the Arts — then called the California College of Arts and Crafts — Marcelin was drawn to Bauhaus, a German school of art that melds functionality and design. —Karla Marie Sanford, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025

This helps the flavors meld together and gives the mixture a smooth texture. —Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 12 May 2025

Noun

The boutique— a meld of rusty reds and forest greens — blends the brand’s classic American West aesthetic with materials like leather, quartz, travertine, burlwood, and walnut. —Kate Donnelly, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

Likewise, smart startups of today are a hybrid meld of human and digital workers to get the job done faster, better, cheaper and with much more efficient use of capital and time. —John Sviokla, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for meld

• celled
• dwelled
• felled
• gelled
• held
• pelled
• quelled
• shelled
• smelled
• spelled
• swelled
• weald

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Kids Definition

meld

1 of 2 verb

ˈmeld 

: 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