meld
1 Americanverb (used with or without object)
noun
verb (used with or without object)
noun
-
the act of melding.
-
any combination of cards to be melded.
verb
noun
-
the act of melding
-
a set of cards for melding
verb
Etymology
Origin of meld1
1935–40; blend of melt 1 and weld 1
Origin of meld2
1895–1900; < German melden to announce; akin to Middle English melden, Old English meldian to make known
Explanation
To meld is to completely combine or blend two or more things. If you meld breakfast and lunch, you get brunch. If you meld jeans and leggings, you get jeggings. Books that are told from the perspectives of more than one character meld different narrators into one coherent story, and complicated recipes meld many different ingredients and flavors. When one thing melds into another, it loses its separate characteristics and blends slowly into the new substance. The origin of meld isn't clear, but some experts guess that it's a combination of melt and weld.
Vocabulary lists containing meld
Portmanteaus: Vocab Mash-Ups
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This Week in Pop Culture: December 1 - 7, 2018
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30 GRE Words Beginning with "K" "L""M" and "N" and "O"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I understand they have a job to do,” she said, gazing toward the tent city, which, from here, seemed to meld toward a vanishing point.
From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026
Directors will want to be sure they can meld groups from the relatively conservative Rio Tinto with those from the more risk-friendly Glencore.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026
Then scatter olives and capers on top, and let the pan bubble away on the stovetop over high heat until the sauce reduces and the flavors meld.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026
The goal was to meld a top-flight recording studio with offices to be rented to people in the entertainment business.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 24, 2025
“As much as I would like to do a Vulcan mind meld with you all, it’s probably not our wisest move. Not this year. The Excelsior judges wouldn’t be able to determine who did what.”
From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
