Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

melee

 - 4 dictionary results

me⋅lee

1  [mey-ley, mey-ley, mel-ey]
Use melee in a Sentence
–noun
1. a confused hand-to-hand fight or struggle among several people.
2. confusion; turmoil; jumble: the melee of Christmas shopping.
Also, mêlée.

Origin:
1640–50; < F mêlée. See medley

me⋅lee

2  [mey-ley, mey-ley]
–noun
a group of diamonds, each weighing less than 0.25 carat.
Origin:
1910–15; orig. uncert.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To melee
me·lee   (mā'lā', mā-lā')   
n.  

    1. Confused, hand-to-hand fighting in a pitched battle.

    2. A violent free-for-all. See Synonyms at brawl.

  2. A confused tumultuous mingling, as of a crowd: the rush-hour melee.


[French mêlée, from Old French meslee, past participle of mesler, to mix; see meddle.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

melee 
1648, from Fr. mêlée, from O.Fr. meslee "confused fight, mixture," from fem. pp. of mesler "to mix, mingle" (see meddle). See also medley.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see melee on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way