fusible

fusible — adjective

  • fusiblepositive
  • more fusiblecomparative
  • most fusiblesuperlative

1. describes a solid material that becomes liquid when heated enough, allowing sepa

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes a solid material that becomes liquid when heated enough, allowing separate pieces to be joined or bonded together

Example

The fusible plug in the sprinkler system melts when the temperature rises above seventy degrees.

collocation: fusible plug in safety devices

Asher used a fusible metal alloy to connect the two copper wires inside the circuit.

collocation: fusible metal alloy for joining

Common collocations
  • fusible plug
  • fusible link
  • fusible alloy
  • fusible metal
  • fusible glass
Synonyms
  • meltable

    more general, less technical in tone

  • liquefiable

    more formal; emphasises becoming liquid rather than joining

  • weldable

    different mechanism — joining by pressure or heat, not necessarily involving melting

Antonyms
  • infusible

    direct opposite; cannot be melted or fused

  • refractory

    especially of metals and ceramics; resists melting even at very high temperatures

Grammar Patterns

fusible + noun

Usage Note

Mainly found in technical and engineering writing — for example, in descriptions of safety devices (fusible plugs, fusible links) and low-melting-point soldering alloys. Less common in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

The fusible metal can be bent without any heat.
The fusible metal becomes soft only when you heat it above its melting point.
Fusible materials require heat to change state; the word does not describe flexibility at room temperature.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Meltable is the broadest of the three — it applies to any solid that can turn to liquid under heat, from butter to iron. Liquefiable is more formal and narrower; it stresses the change into a liquid state and is often used in chemistry and physics. Weldable is a different concept: it describes materials (typically metals or plastics) that can be joined by applying heat, pressure, or both, but the material does not need to become fully liquid. Fusible sits between meltable and liquefiable, with an additional implication that the melted material is meant to bond with something else. For example, a fusible alloy is designed to melt and connect electrical components, whereas meltable chocolate is simply eaten.

meltable ↗liquefiable ↗weldable

Common collocations

Adverbs

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Fusible comes from the Latin word 'fusibilis', which is formed from 'fundere' meaning 'to pour, melt'. It entered English through Old French during the late medieval period, when metalworking and alchemy created a need for words describing materials that could be liquefied by heat.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined above