■ verb
1》 make or become liquefied by heating.
↘( ~ something down ) ~ a metal article so as to reuse the raw material.
↘dissolve in liquid.
2》 (often ~ away ) disappear or disperse.
↘( ~ into ) change or merge imperceptibly into (another form or state).
3》 become or make more tender or loving.
■ noun
1》 an act or period of ~ing.
↘metal or other material in a ~ed condition.
↘a quantity of metal ~ed in one operation.
2》 chiefly N. Amer. a sandwich, hamburger, or other dish containing or topped with ~ed cheese.
Derivatives
~able adjective
~er noun
~ing adjective
~ingly adverb
Origin
OE ~an , mieltan , of Gmc origin; related to malt .