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melee

1

or mê·lée

[ mey-ley, mey-ley, mel-ey ]
/ ˈmeɪ leɪ, meɪˈleɪ, ˈmɛl eɪ /
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noun

a confused hand-to-hand fight or struggle among several people.
confusion; turmoil; jumble: the melee of Christmas shopping.

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Origin of melee

1
From the French word mêlée, dating back to 1640–50. See medley

Definition for melee (2 of 2)

melee2
[ mey-ley, mey-ley ]
/ ˈmeɪ leɪ, meɪˈleɪ /

noun

a group of diamonds, each weighing less than 0.25 carat.

Origin of melee

2
First recorded in 1910–15; origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use melee in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for melee

melee

mle

/ (ˈmɛleɪ) /

noun

a noisy riotous fight or brawl

Word Origin for melee

C17: from French mêlée. See medley
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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