1 C1 neutral
To melt from within a surrounding solid material and escape or be released from it.
"As global temperatures rise, trapped organic material melts out of the permafrost."
inseparable
melt out
C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To melt and come free or be extracted from a surrounding material; used mainly in geology and technical contexts.
In plain English
Melt and come out from inside something — like ice in permafrost melting out of the ground.
What does "melt out" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To melt and come 'out' from an enclosure — transparent in a technical context.
Actually means
Melt and come out from inside something — like ice in permafrost melting out of the ground.
Usage tip
Primarily a technical or geological term. Used to describe ice or frozen substances melting out of permafrost, glaciers, or other enclosing materials. Rarely used in everyday speech. May also be used in industrial contexts for materials melting out of molds or compounds.
Words that pair with "melt out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
permafrost ice glacier ground material mold
How to conjugate "melt out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
melt out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
melts out
he/she/it
Past simple
melted out
yesterday
Past participle
melted out
have + pp
-ing form
melting out
continuous
Hear "melt out" in the wild
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Other ways to say "melt out"
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