melting

adjective

melt·​ing ˈmel-tiŋ How to pronounce melting (audio)
: tender, delicate
a love song's melting lyric
… he impressed me with a melting performance of Paola Prestini's "Prelude and Aria" (from her opera "Gilgamesh") with the American Composers Orchestra.The New York Times
Updike's manner of appreciation is softer, more murmurous, more a matter of sighs and attentive ahhhs, but before his tone can turn too melting he pulls himself up and fixes the writer with an arresting phrase or judgment.James Wolcott
meltingly adverb
meltingly tender berries … Elaine Johnson
It was a little plane, with the usual meltingly beautiful air hostess. Doris Lessing
Phil Masi looked at him meltingly. "Oh gosh, Senator, I'd follow you anywhere." Wilfrid Sheed
The kitchen does justice to its prime ingredients. Careful braising makes for moist, meltingly tender rabbit that soaks up its sauce like a sponge. William Grimes

Examples of melting in a Sentence

a love song's melting lyrics She looked at him with melting eyes.

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of melting was in 1565

Dictionary Entries Near melting

Cite this Entry

“Melting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melting. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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