fuse

¹

[ fyooz ]

noun

1. a tube, cord, or the like, filled or saturated with combustible matter, for igniting an explosive.
2. fuze ( def 1 ).

verb (used with object)

, fused, fus·ing.

1. fuze ( def 3 ).

fuse

²

[ fyooz ]

noun

1. Electricity. a protective device, used in an electric circuit, containing a conductor that melts under heat produced by an excess current, thereby opening the circuit. Compare circuit breaker ( def 1 ).

verb (used with object)

, fused, fus·ing.

1. to combine or blend by melting together; melt.
2. to unite or blend into a whole, as if by melting together:

   The author skillfully fuses these fragments into a cohesive whole.

verb (used without object)

, fused, fus·ing.

1. to become liquid under the action of heat; melt:

   At a relatively low temperature the metal will fuse.

2. to become united or blended:

   The two groups fused to create one strong union.

3. Chiefly British. to overload an electric circuit so as to burn out a fuse.

fuse

¹

/ fjuːz /

verb

1. to unite or become united by melting, esp by the action of heat

   to fuse borax and copper sulphate at a high temperature

2. to become or cause to become liquid, esp by the action of heat; melt
3. to join or become combined; integrate
4. tr to equip (an electric circuit, plug, etc) with a fuse
5. to fail or cause to fail as a result of the blowing of a fuse

   the lights fused

noun

1. a protective device for safeguarding electric circuits, etc, containing a wire that melts and breaks the circuit when the current exceeds a certain value

fuse

²

/ fjuːz /

noun

1. a lead of combustible black powder in a waterproof covering ( safety fuse ), or a lead containing an explosive ( detonating fuse ), used to fire an explosive charge
2. any device by which an explosive charge is ignited
3. blow a fuse
   See blow 1

verb

1. tr to provide or equip with such a fuse

fuse

/ fyo̅o̅z /

Noun

1. A safety device that protects an electric circuit from becoming overloaded. Fuses contain a length of thin wire (usually of a metal alloy) that melts and breaks the circuit if too much current flows through it. They were traditionally used to protect electronic equipment and prevent fires, but have largely been replaced by circuit breakers.
2. A cord of readily combustible material that is lighted at one end to carry a flame along its length to detonate an explosive at the other end.

Verb

1. To melt something, such as metal or glass, by heating.
2. To blend two or more substances by melting.

Derived Forms

• ˈfuseless, adjective

Other Words From

• fuseless adjective
• fuselike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fuse¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Italian fuso, from Latin fūsus “spindle” (i.e., a spindle-shaped tube filled with combustible matter)

Origin of fuse²

First recorded in 1675–85 for the verb; from Latin fūsus “melted, poured, cast,” past participle of fundere

Word History and Origins

Origin of fuse¹

C17: from Latin fūsus melted, cast, poured out, from fundere to pour out, shed; sense 5 influenced by fuse ¹

Origin of fuse²

C17: from Italian fuso spindle, from Latin fūsus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. blow a fuse, Informal. to lose one's temper; become enraged:

   If I'm late again, they'll blow a fuse.

2. have a short fuse, Informal. to anger easily; have a quick temper.

More idioms and phrases containing fuse

see blow a fuse .

Synonym Study

See melt ¹.

Example Sentences

Comedian Billy Eichner loves surprising unsuspecting New Yorkers on his Fuse show, ‘Billy on the Street.’

From The Daily Beast

In its place came something which, striving to fuse Urdu and Telugu, seemed to devalue both.

From The Daily Beast

There is a short fuse and a certain explosion at the end of this piece of treachery.

From The Daily Beast

The author of the popular Pure and Fuse has completed the trilogy with the new book, Burn.

From The Daily Beast

The classes, which can only be booked as semi-private, fuse the practices of Gyrotonic and Pilates.

From The Daily Beast

When the French generals reached the Austrian end they found a sergeant of engineers actually proceeding to fire the fuse.

From Project Gutenberg

From the said mixture, although they tried it several times, it was impossible to fuse or melt the said ore.

From Project Gutenberg

This Christian device is made of a jam-tin or crock filled with gun-cotton and nails, and has a fuse attached to it.

From Project Gutenberg

The fuse is lighted and thrown by hand into the enemy's trench, where it explodes and does much execution.

From Project Gutenberg

This is simply made out of an old jam tin, whilst the fuse is lit before firing the charge in the drain-pipe.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blend
• coalesce
• combine
• dissolve
• integrate
• melt
• merge
• mingle
• weld