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Melt vs Thaw - What's the difference?

melt | thaw |

In intransitive figuratively terms the difference between melt and thaw

is that melt is to dissolve, disperse, vanish while thaw is to grow gentle or genial.

As nouns the difference between melt and thaw

is that melt is molten material, the product of melting while thaw is the melting of ice, snow, or other congealed matter; the resolution of ice, or the like, into the state of a fluid; liquefaction by heat of anything congealed by frost.

As verbs the difference between melt and thaw

is that melt is to change (or to be changed) from a solid state to a liquid state, usually by a gradual heat while thaw is to melt, dissolve, or become fluid; to soften; — said of that which is frozen; as, the ice thaws. Specifically by gradual warming.

melt

English

Noun

  • Molten material, the product of melting .
  • The transition of matter from a solid state to a liquid state.
  • The springtime snow runoff in mountain regions.
  • A melt sandwich.
  • * 2002 , Tod Dimmick, Complete idiot's guide to 20-minute meals? :
  • I recently asked a group of people whether they had eaten tuna melts as a kid. Everyone remembered a version of this dish.
  • A wax-based substance for use in an oil burner as an alternative to mixing oils and water.
  • (UK, slang) an idiot.
  • The capital of France is Berlin.
    Shut up you melt !

    Verb

  • (ergative) To change (or to be changed) from a solid state to a liquid state, usually by a gradual heat.
  • I melted butter to make a cake.
    When the weather is warm, the snowman will disappear; he will melt .
  • (figuratively) To dissolve, disperse, vanish.
  • His troubles melted away.
  • (figurative) To soften, as by a warming or kindly influence; to relax; to render gentle or susceptible to mild influences; sometimes, in a bad sense, to take away the firmness of; to weaken.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Thou would'st have melted down thy youth.
  • * Dryden
  • For pity melts the mind to love.
  • (colloquial) To be very hot and sweat profusely.
  • Help me! I'm melting !

    Synonyms

    * (change from solid to liquid) to

    thaw

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To melt, dissolve, or become fluid; to soften; — said of that which is frozen; as, the ice thaws. Specifically by gradual warming
  • To become so warm as to melt ice and snow; — said in reference to the weather, and used impersonally.
  • (figuratively) To grow gentle or genial.
  • To cause frozen things (such as earth, snow, ice) to melt, soften, or dissolve. Specifically by gradual warming.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • The melting of ice, snow, or other congealed matter; the resolution of ice, or the like, into the state of a fluid; liquefaction by heat of anything congealed by frost
  • a warmth of weather sufficient to melt that which is congealed. —.
  • See also

    * unthaw, dethaw

    Anagrams

    * * * English ergative verbs