fuse
/fjuːz/ (bre, ipa) · /fjuːz/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfyüz/ (ame, mw)
fuse — noun
- fusesingular
- fusesplural
1. A small wire or safety part inside an electrical device that melts and breaks th
A small wire or safety part inside an electrical device that melts and breaks the flow of electricity when the current becomes too strong, stopping the device from catching fire or being damaged.
The lights went out because a fuse blew after the thunderstorm.
collocation: fuse blows / fuse blows out
Élise checked the fuse box when the toaster suddenly stopped working.
collocation: fuse box
Kian always keeps spare fuses in the kitchen drawer for emergencies.
An old or damaged fuse can cause the heater to shut off without warning.
Hoa called an electrician when the living room fuse blew twice in a week.
- circuit breaker
A circuit breaker can be reset after tripping; a fuse must be replaced.
用法筆記
In everyday speech, 'a fuse blows' or 'a fuse goes' is more common than 'a fuse melts'. British English often uses 'blown fuse' where American English uses 'blown fuse' as well — no difference.
常見錯誤
2. A cord, tube, or piece of paper filled with a substance that burns slowly, used
A cord, tube, or piece of paper filled with a substance that burns slowly, used to light fireworks from a safe distance or to set off a bomb at a chosen time.
Constanza lit the fuse of the firework and quickly stepped back.
collocation: light the fuse
The bomb squad cut the fuse before it could reach the explosive material.
collocation: cut the fuse
A long fuse gave the workers enough time to get to a safe building.
The old firework had a damp fuse that would not stay lit.
Ilan carefully attached a new fuse to the firework before the display.
- detonator
A detonator is the part that causes the explosion; the fuse is the cord that carries the flame to the detonator.
用法筆記
The 'fuse' of a firework is the part you light. A 'fuse' in a bomb is the timing or impact mechanism. The expression 'light the fuse' is also used metaphorically to mean 'start a chain of events'.
常見錯誤
fuse — verb
- fusepresent simple I / you / we / they
- fuses3rd person singular
- fusing-ing form
- fusedpast simple
1. To join two or more separate things together by welding, soldering, or using hea
To join two or more separate things together by welding, soldering, or using heat, pressure, or adhesive, so that they form a single solid piece.
Ritu fused the two metal rods together using a welding torch.
fuse + object + together
The plastic pipes fused into a single tube when the worker applied heat.
intransitive: fuse into
Christopher fused the broken chain link by heating it with a small flame.
Heat and pressure fuse the recycled plastic pellets into a strong board.
文法句型
fuse + object + with + object
fuse + to + object
用法筆記
This sense is most common in manufacturing, metalwork, and plumbing. For non-physical joining, see verb sense 2 (COMBINE IDEAS). For pure melting of materials without joining, see verb sense 3.
常見錯誤
2. When different ideas, musical styles, cultures, or traditions come together to f
When different ideas, musical styles, cultures, or traditions come together to form something new and unified, they fuse.
The band fused jazz rhythms with traditional Korean folk music.
fuse [style A] with [style B]
Maeve's cooking style fuses French techniques with fresh Asian ingredients.
The two political parties fused into a single coalition after months of talks.
This building fuses modern glass design with ancient stone carving methods.
- blend
Blending suggests mixing evenly and smoothly; fusing often implies a more permanent or creative integration.
- combine
A general word; 'fuse' carries the sense of a closer, more organic union than 'combine'.
- merge
Merging is used for companies or groups joining together; fusing implies a creative or cultural mixing.
文法句型
fuse + noun + with + noun
用法筆記
This sense is very common in discussions of art, culture, food, and music. The result is often described with the noun 'fusion' (e.g. 'fusion cuisine').
3. To soften or melt a material, especially metal or glass, by subjecting it to ver
To soften or melt a material, especially metal or glass, by subjecting it to very high heat until it becomes pliable or liquid.
The glassmaker fused coloured pieces of glass into a single decorative bowl.
fuse [material] into [result]
Extreme heat inside the volcano fused the rocks into a hard, dark stone.
When the metal fuses, it becomes soft enough to pour into a mould.
The factory uses a special oven to fuse copper wires into a solid block.
文法句型
fuse + object
fuse together
用法筆記
This sense focuses on the physical melting of a material by heat. For joining pieces together by heat or pressure, see verb sense 1.
4. If an electrical device fuses, excessive electric current has damaged a safety c
If an electrical device fuses, excessive electric current has damaged a safety component inside it, causing the device to shut down and stop functioning.
The hairdryer fused when Kian plugged it into the old socket.
intransitive: [device] fuses
Yuna's laptop charger fused during the storm, so she had to buy a new one.
The lights fused when too many appliances were running at once.
Folake accidentally fused the whole circuit by using a damaged extension cord.
- blow
'Blow' is more common in everyday speech; 'fuse' is slightly more technical.
文法句型
[device] fuses
fuse + object
用法筆記
This sense is primarily British English. American English would say 'the circuit blew' or 'the fuse blew' rather than 'the device fused'. The object is usually the electrical appliance, not the fuse itself.
常見錯誤
5. To equip a bomb, missile, or other explosive device with a mechanism that will c
To equip a bomb, missile, or other explosive device with a mechanism that will cause it to explode at a specific time or upon impact.
The technician fused the device just before placing it in the test area.
technical register: fuse + object
A specialist team was trained to fuse the explosives safely before each operation.
The soldiers fused the charges and moved to a safe distance from the site.
The demolition crew fused the explosives an hour before the planned blast.
文法句型
fuse + object
用法筆記
This is a narrow technical sense mostly found in military or demolition contexts. In everyday speech, the noun 'fuse' is used instead (e.g. 'they put the fuse in the bomb').