What does meld mean?
Meld means to bring distinct things together so that they form a unified whole. It can describe combining materials, styles, traditions, ideas, or musical elements, often with the suggestion that the result is harmonious rather than merely juxtaposed. The word is useful when the separate elements remain recognizable within the new combination: two colours may meld, a composer may meld jazz with classical music, or a design may meld modern features with historic architecture. As a noun, a meld is the resulting blend or combination. In card games, the word also refers to a permitted grouping of cards that qualifies for points or another game benefit. Although less frequent than blend, combine, or merge, meld often conveys a more seamless, carefully integrated result. It should not be confused with melt, which primarily describes softening or liquefying a substance.
To combine or merge two or more things so that they form a unified whole.
"The programme melds traditional music with modern instrumentation."
Often implies that the combined elements retain some of their individual character.
A combination or blend of distinct elements; in card games, a set of cards grouped under the rules for scoring.
"The building is an impressive meld of Art Deco and vernacular design."
The card-game sense is especially common in North American English.
Used when referring to multiple combinations, blends, or card groupings.
"The design draws on several melds of traditional and modern techniques."
Meld is essentially a combination of melt and weld: one word joins the ideas of dissolving a boundary and binding things together.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of meld
Meld is a 19th-century blend of melt and weld, combining the idea of dissolving a boundary with that of joining materials firmly. The verb developed in contexts involving the merging of substances and later broadened to describe the integration of styles, ideas, and traditions. Its noun senses developed from the result of such a combination and, independently in card-game terminology, from a grouping of cards.
Related word forms
How meld is actually used
The word is neutral in register but less common than combine, blend, or merge. It often suggests integration without the complete loss of each component's identity. The card-game sense is especially common in North American usage.
Easily confused with meld
Meld means to combine distinct elements into a unified whole, whereas melt usually means to soften or liquefy under heat.