fuse

¹

[ fyooz ]

noun

1. a tube, cord, or the like, filled or saturated with combustible matter, for igniting an explosive.
2. fuze ( def 1 ).

verb (used with object)

, fused, fus·ing.

1. fuze ( def 3 ).

fuse

²

[ fyooz ]

noun

1. Electricity. a protective device, used in an electric circuit, containing a conductor that melts under heat produced by an excess current, thereby opening the circuit. Compare circuit breaker ( def 1 ).

verb (used with object)

, fused, fus·ing.

1. to combine or blend by melting together; melt.
2. to unite or blend into a whole, as if by melting together:

   The author skillfully fuses these fragments into a cohesive whole.

verb (used without object)

, fused, fus·ing.

1. to become liquid under the action of heat; melt:

   At a relatively low temperature the metal will fuse.

2. to become united or blended:

   The two groups fused to create one strong union.

3. Chiefly British. to overload an electric circuit so as to burn out a fuse.

fuse

¹

/ fjuːz /

verb

1. to unite or become united by melting, esp by the action of heat

   to fuse borax and copper sulphate at a high temperature

2. to become or cause to become liquid, esp by the action of heat; melt
3. to join or become combined; integrate
4. tr to equip (an electric circuit, plug, etc) with a fuse
5. to fail or cause to fail as a result of the blowing of a fuse

   the lights fused

noun

1. a protective device for safeguarding electric circuits, etc, containing a wire that melts and breaks the circuit when the current exceeds a certain value

fuse

²

/ fjuːz /

noun

1. a lead of combustible black powder in a waterproof covering ( safety fuse ), or a lead containing an explosive ( detonating fuse ), used to fire an explosive charge
2. any device by which an explosive charge is ignited
3. blow a fuse
   See blow 1

verb

1. tr to provide or equip with such a fuse

fuse

/ fyo̅o̅z /

Noun

1. A safety device that protects an electric circuit from becoming overloaded. Fuses contain a length of thin wire (usually of a metal alloy) that melts and breaks the circuit if too much current flows through it. They were traditionally used to protect electronic equipment and prevent fires, but have largely been replaced by circuit breakers.
2. A cord of readily combustible material that is lighted at one end to carry a flame along its length to detonate an explosive at the other end.

Verb

1. To melt something, such as metal or glass, by heating.
2. To blend two or more substances by melting.

Derived Forms

• ˈfuseless, adjective

Other Words From

• fuseless adjective
• fuselike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fuse¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Italian fuso, from Latin fūsus “spindle” (i.e., a spindle-shaped tube filled with combustible matter)

Origin of fuse²

First recorded in 1675–85 for the verb; from Latin fūsus “melted, poured, cast,” past participle of fundere

Word History and Origins

Origin of fuse¹

C17: from Latin fūsus melted, cast, poured out, from fundere to pour out, shed; sense 5 influenced by fuse ¹

Origin of fuse²

C17: from Italian fuso spindle, from Latin fūsus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. blow a fuse, Informal. to lose one's temper; become enraged:

   If I'm late again, they'll blow a fuse.

2. have a short fuse, Informal. to anger easily; have a quick temper.

More idioms and phrases containing fuse

see blow a fuse .

Synonym Study

See melt ¹.

Example Sentences

Scientists have long known that it is impossible to separate or fuse a conscious mind — at least, that is what they thought.

From Salon

The first is a study from the journal Current Biology found that ctenophores, a phlyum of aquatic invertebrates better known as comb jellies, can successfully fuse together after being injured.

From Salon

Previous research has demonstrated that M. Leidyi fuse within themselves whenever they need to defecate, squashing together their outer skin and digestive system fuse to form an opening— essentially creating a "disappearing anus" — yet this is the first evidence for two separate jellies becoming one.

From Salon

It helped light the fuse for Britpop and set the group on their way to record-breaking shows at Knebworth just two years later in front of 250,000 people.

From BBC

But what most gives me hope for Donaldson as a filmmaker, however, is how much she cares about the lost magic of scene work, those building blocks of human interaction — movement, composition, dialogue, pacing, depth and in this case the gifts of an incredible newcomer in Collias — that fuse us to a movie’s internal logic, its intangibles.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blend
• coalesce
• combine
• dissolve
• integrate
• melt
• merge
• mingle
• weld