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 of meld

Verb (2)

• combine
• mix
• merge
• integrate
• blend
• amalgamate
• incorporate

Noun (2)

• blend
• mix
• mixture
• amalgamation
• amalgam
• alloy
• combination

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

These albums are unique exercises for WiFi and his understated, malleable rapping—balancing acts for retaining his own singular style while melding with his producers’ beats. —Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 6 May 2026

The metal’s association with kings melds perfectly with his conception of himself as one. —Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

Noun

Jaime Fennelly’s synth melds with Westerlund’s gong colors and Bowles’ banjo into a vivid and timeless totality. —Jesse Jarnow, Pitchfork, 4 May 2026

Ballet-slipper pink melds into an airy white tip with ease. —Amanda Le, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026

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