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Definition of melt verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    melt

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//mɛlt//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they melt
     
    he / she / it melts
     
    past simple melted
     
    -ing form melting
     
     
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  1. 1[intransitive, transitive] to become or make something become liquid as a result of heating The snow showed no sign of melting. melting ice melt something The sun had melted the snow. First, melt two ounces of butter. Topic CollocationsCookingpreparing
    • prepare a dish/a meal/a menu/dinner/the fish
    • weigh out 4oz of sugar/the ingredients
    • wash/rinse the lettuce/spinach
    • chop/slice/dice the carrots/onions/potatoes
    • peel the carrots/onion/potatoes/garlic/orange
    • grate a carrot/the cheese/some nutmeg
    • remove/discard the bones/seeds/skin/rind/peel
    • blend/combine/mix (together) the flour and water/all the ingredients
    • beat/whisk the cream/eggs/egg whites
    • knead/shape/roll (out) the dough
    cooking
    • heat the oil in a frying pan
    • preheat/heat the oven/the broiler
    • bring to a boil
    • stir constantly/gently with a wooden spoon
    • reduce the heat
    • simmer gently for 20 minutes/until reduced by half
    • melt the butter/chocolate/cheese
    • dissolve the sugar in water
    • brown the meat for 8-10 minutes
    • drain the pasta/the water from the pot/in a colander/in a strainer
    • mash the potatoes/banana/avocado
    ways of cooking
    • cook food/fish/meat/rice/pasta/a Mexican dish
    • bake (a loaf of) bread/a cake/a pie/potatoes/muffins/cookies/fish
    • boil cabbage/potatoes/an egg/a hot dog/water
    • fry/deep-fry/stir-fry the chicken/vegetables
    • broil meat/steak/chicken/sausages
    • roast potatoes/peppers/meat/chicken/beef
    • sauté garlic/mushrooms/onions/potatoes/vegetables
    • steam rice/vegetables/spinach/asparagus/dumplings
    • toast bread/nuts
    • microwave food/popcorn/a frozen dinner/a TV dinner
    serving
    • serve in a glass/on a bed of rice/with potatoes
    • arrange the slices on a plate/in layers
    • carve the meat/chicken/turkey
    • dress/toss a salad
    • dress with/drizzle with olive oil/vinaigrette
    • top with a slice of lemon/a scoop of ice cream/whipped cream/syrup
    • garnish with a sprig of parsley/fresh basil leaves/lemon wedges/a slice of lime/a twist of orange
    • sprinkle with salt/sugar/herbs/parsley/freshly ground black pepper
    compare defrost, de-ice
  2. 2[intransitive, transitive] to become or to make a feeling, an emotion, etc. become gentler and less strong The tension in the room began to melt. melt something Her trusting smile melted his heart.
  3. Idioms
    butter wouldn't melt (in somebody's mouth) (informal)
     
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    used to say that someone seems to be innocent, kind, etc. when they are not really
    melt in your mouth
     
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    (of food) to be soft and very good to eat They serve steaks that just melt in your mouth.
    Phrasal Verbsmelt awaymelt downmelt into
See melt in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary