Meaning & Definition of word "Smelt"
to
Smelt
/smɛlt/
noun:
- 1. A process of making metal by melting.
- Example: The smelt of iron requires high temperatures in a blast furnace.
verb:
- 1. To extract a metal from its ore by a process involving heating and melting.
- Example: The miners learned how to smelt the copper ore to obtain pure metal.
- 2. To fuse or melt (metal) in order to separate it from impurities.
- Example: They smelted the gold by heating it to a high temperature.
- 3. To refine (a metal) by melting and separating.
- Example: The factory smelts aluminum from recycled materials.
Etymology
Middle English: from Old Norse 'smelta', meaning 'to melt'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
smelt down:
To melt something in order to reshape it.
smelt iron:
The process of extracting iron from its ore.
smelt with fire:
To use intense heat to refine a metal.
Related Words
melting:
The process of changing from solid to liquid.
ore:
A naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be extracted.
refine:
To remove impurities or unwanted elements from a substance.
Slang Meanings of smelt
Meaning: To perceive or detect a strong odor.
Example Sentence: Dude, I totally smelt those cookies you made!
Meaning: To emit an unpleasant smell.
Example Sentence: That pizza smelt after it was left out all night.