I. ˈmȯlt noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English mealt; akin to Old High German malz malt, Old Saxon & Old Norse malt; derivative from the root of English melt (I)
1. : a material that consists of grain (as barley or oats) softened by steeping in water, allowed to germinate in order to develop the enzyme diastase which is capable of saccharifying the starch of the material itself and of raw grain mixed with it, usually dried in a kiln, and often ground and that is used especially in brewing and distilling and as a nutrient and digestive — compare green malt , wort
2.
a. : malt liquor
b. : malt whiskey
3. : malted milk
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English malten, from malt, n.
transitive verb
1. : to convert into malt
malt barley
2. : to make or treat with malt or malt extract
malt beer
intransitive verb
1. : to become malt
2. : to make grain into malt