meld

verb (1)

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\ ˈmeld

melded; melding; melds

Definition of meld

(Entry 1 of 4)

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

noun (1)

Definition of meld (Entry 2 of 4)

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

meld

verb (2)

melded; melding; melds

Definition of meld (Entry 3 of 4)

: merge, blend Cook the sauce slowly to let the flavors meld.

meld

noun (2)

Definition of meld (Entry 4 of 4)

: blend, mixture a meld of Christian and Jewish customs

Did you know?

As a verb meaning "to blend or merge," 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.