smelt

1 of 3

noun

ˈsmelt 

plural smelts or smelt

: any of a family (Osmeridae) of small bony fishes that closely resemble the trouts in general structure, live along coasts and ascend rivers to spawn or are landlocked, and have delicate oily flesh with a distinctive odor and taste

smelt

2 of 3

verb

smelted; smelting; smelts

transitive verb

1

: to melt or fuse (a substance, such as ore) often with an accompanying chemical change usually to separate the metal

2

: refine, reduce

smelt

3 of 3

chiefly British past participle of smell entry 1

Examples of smelt in a Sentence

Verb

the process used for smelting iron ore

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Anglers now report cleaning fish with stomachs packed full of smelt. —John Myers, Twin Cities, 11 June 2024

Additionally, the texture of raw smelt is perfect for cleaning your dog's teeth and promoting good dental hygiene. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 30 June 2023

Verb

Once extracted from Cornwall, Cornish copper was mostly smelted in Wales. —Corinne Fowler / Made By History, TIME, 17 June 2024

Spearheads were expensive, crafted by Icelandic smiths using iron smelted from deposits in bogs. —Andrew Chapman, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Norwegian smelte whiting

Verb

Dutch or Low German smelten; akin to Old High German smelzan to melt, Old English meltan — more at melt

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

smelt

1 of 2 noun

ˈsmelt 

plural smelts or smelt

: any of several very small food fishes that look like the related trouts and live in fresh water or in coastal sea waters

smelt

2 of 2 verb

1

: to melt (as ore) usually in order to separate the metal

2

: refine sense 1, reduce