fuse

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /fjuːz/ See IPA manual

Freq #7256

Meanings

1

verb
To join or blend two or more things into one.

The band fuses jazz and rock into a fresh new sound.
2

verb
To join two things by melting them together with heat.

The metal pieces were fused together at high temperature.
3

noun
A safety device that breaks an electrical circuit if the current gets too high.

A fuse blew, so all the lights went out.
4

noun
A cord that is lit to set off an explosive device.

He lit the fuse and ran for cover.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to join or blend two or... blend merge

2 verb · to join two things by... melt

Word family

Forms fusedfusesfusing

Derived forms autofusecircumfusedefuseelectrofusefuselikefusogenfusomefusorinterfusemultifusepolyfuserefuse

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

plug fuse
an electrical fuse with a threaded base that screws into a socket

Noun + noun

Simplified etymology

Fuse in the sense involving melting, recorded from the late 16th century, ultimately derives from Latin fundere, “to melt, pour.” The same Latin verb passed through French fondre into English found meaning “melt and mould.”

Etymology

Back-formation from fusion (“to melt”), first to verbal sense, then noun.

*ǵʰewd- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# fuse

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /fjuːz/
**Frequency rank:** 7256

## Meanings
1. To join or blend two or more things into one.
2. To join two things by melting them together with heat.
3. A safety device that breaks an electrical circuit if the current gets too high.
4. A cord that is lit to set off an explosive device.

## Examples
- The band fuses jazz and rock into a fresh new sound.
- The metal pieces were fused together at high temperature.
- A fuse blew, so all the lights went out.
- He lit the fuse and ran for cover.

## Derived Forms
- autofuse
- circumfuse
- defuse
- electrofuse
- fuselike
- fusogen
- fusome
- fusor
- interfuse
- multifuse
- polyfuse
- refuse

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ǵʰewd-

## Etymology
Back-formation from fusion (“to melt”), first to verbal sense, then noun.

## AI Etymology
Fuse is a back-formation from fusion (“to melt”), first to verbal sense, then noun. In present-day use, it can mean to join or blend two or more things into one, or to join two things by melting them together with heat. Derived formations include autofuse, circumfuse, defuse, electrofuse, fuselike.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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