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• mélange
  mélange

  noun

  a mixture; medley.
• melange
  melange

  noun

  a mixture; confusion

mélange

American  

[mey-lahnzh, -lahnj] / meɪˈlɑ̃ʒ, -ˈlɑndʒ /

noun

mélanges plural

1. a mixture; medley.

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melange British  

/ meɪˈlɑːnʒ /

noun

1. a mixture; confusion

2. geology a totally disordered mixture of rocks of different shapes, sizes, ages, and origins

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mélange Scientific  

/ mā-länzh′ /

1. A metamorphic rock formation created from materials scraped off the top of a downward moving tectonic plate in a subduction zone. Mélanges occur where plates of oceanic crust subduct beneath plates of continental crust, as along the western coast of South America. They consist of intensely deformed marine sediments and ocean-floor basalts and are characterized by the lack of regular strata, the inclusion of fragments and blocks of various rock types, and the presence of minerals that form only under high pressure and low temperature conditions.

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Usage

What does mélange mean? A mélange is a mixture or medley, especially of a wide range or variety of items. It is sometimes spelled without the accent mark, as melange. In geology, it is used in a more specific way to refer to a disordered mixture of rocks of different shapes, sizes, ages, and origins. Such a mixture occurs due to the movement of tectonic plates. Another specific use of mélange refers to a type of fabric made with different colored threads. Example: The documentary is a mélange of video clips, still photos, interviews, and animated sequences.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• mélanges
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mélange

1645–55; < French; Old French meslance, equivalent to mesl ( er ) to mix ( see meddle) + -ance noun suffix ≪ Germanic -ingō -ing ¹

Explanation

Why call it a mixture when it can be a melange? A tricolor vegetable melange makes even carrots, peas, and corn sound like gourmet cuisine. A melange is any combination of anything, but the word always heightens the glamour quotient. The French have a way of making simple words sound like romantic entreaties of love. Call any random assortment of things a melange, or as it's sometimes spelled, mélange, and voila, you've given it a sparkle that plain old words like combination, mixture, and blend just cannot convey. This word — along with a melange of other attributes, like great bread and pastries, delicious wine, and fine fashion — are all reasons why we love the French. All that accordion music? Not so much.

Example Sentences

Melange closed its first energy-focused secondaries investment pool with $430 million, exceeding its initial target.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

Melange is a byproduct of the massive sandworms that also inhabit the planet.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 27, 2024

“Our restaurant Melange is a perfect choice for the more discerning Coachella Music Festival fan,” Mr. Cline said.

From Washington Times • Mar. 28, 2017

He discovers he has a teenage daughter and the two of them reluctantly join the Melange Center, a group for people attempting the seemingly impossible task of claiming multiple identities at once.

From Slate • Dec. 3, 2015

One or two brief sketches and a rather rough and tumble arrangement for the close, which the enterprising managers designated as "The Strollers' Melange," completed the night's entertainment.

From A Pirate of Parts by Neville, Richard

Related Words

• hodgepodge
• jumble
• medley
• miscellany