Melt, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Melted(obs.)p. p.Molten (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Melting.] [AS. meltan; akin to Gr. μέλδειν, E. malt, and prob. to E. smelt, v. √108. Cf. Smelt, v., Malt, Milt the spleen.] 1. To reduce from a solid to a liquid state, as by heat; to liquefy; as, to melt wax, tallow, or lead; to melt ice or snow.
2. Hence: 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.
Thou would'st have... melted down thy youth. Shak.
For pity melts the mind to love. Dryden.
Syn. — To liquefy; fuse; thaw; mollify; soften.