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Fuse

 - 9 dictionary results

fuse

1[fyooz] noun, verb, fused, fus⋅ing.
–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)
3. fuze (def. 3).
4. have a short fuse, Informal. to anger easily; have a quick temper.

Origin:
1635–45; < It fuso < L fūsus spindle


fuseless, adjective
fuselike, adjective

fuse

2[fyooz] noun, verb, fused, fus⋅ing.
–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.
–verb (used with object)
2. to combine or blend by melting together; melt.
3. 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)
4. to become liquid under the action of heat; melt: At a relatively low temperature the metal will fuse.
5. to become united or blended: The two groups fused to create one strong union.
6. Chiefly British. to overload an electric circuit so as to burn out a fuse.
7. blow a fuse, Informal. to lose one's temper; become enraged: If I'm late again, they'll blow a fuse.

Origin:
1675–85; < L fūsus melted, poured, cast, ptp. of fundere


2. See melt.

fuze

[fyooz] noun, verb, fuzed, fuz⋅ing.
–noun
1. a mechanical or electronic device to detonate an explosive charge, esp. as contained in an artillery shell, a missile, projectile, or the like.
2. fuse 1 (def. 1).
–verb (used with object)
3. Also, fuse. to attach a fuse or fuze to (a bomb, mine, etc.).

Origin:
1635–45; var. of fuse 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Fuse
fuse 1 also fuze   (fyōōz)   
n.  
  1. 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.

  2. often fuze A mechanical or electrical mechanism used to detonate an explosive charge or device such as a bomb or grenade: "A mechanical . . . switch is used to initiate the fuzes" (International Defense Review).

tr.v.   fused also fuzed, fus·ing also fuz·ing, fus·es also fuz·es
To equip with a mechanical or electrical fuse: "The bomb . . . was fuzed and timed to explode after the aircraft had taken off" (Aviation Week & Space Technology).

[From Italian fuso, spindle (originally from its shape), from Latin fūsus.]
fuse 2   (fyōōz)   
v.   fused, fus·ing, fus·es

v.   tr.
  1. To liquefy or reduce to a plastic state by heating; melt.

  2. To mix (constituent elements) together by or as if by melting; blend.

v.   intr.
  1. To become liquefied from heat.

  2. To become mixed or united by or as if by melting together: "There was no separation between joy and sorrow: they fused into one" (Henry Miller). See Synonyms at mix.

n.  A safety device that protects an electric circuit from excessive current, consisting of or containing a metal element that melts when current exceeds a specific amperage, thereby opening the circuit.

[Latin fundere, fūs-, to melt; see gheu- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

fuse  (v.)
1681, "to melt," from fusion. Figurative sense of "blending of different things" is first recorded 1776.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: fuse
Pronunciation: 'fyüz
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: fused; fus·ing
transitive senses
: to cause toundergo fusion <fuse a joint> fuse intransitive senses
: to undergo fusion
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Computing Dictionary

FUSE
A DEC software development environment for ULTRIX, offering an integrated toolkit for developing, testing, debugging and maintenance.

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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Idioms & Phrases

fuse

see blow a fuse.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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