liquify

IPA/ˈlɪk.wɪ.faɪ/
IPA/ˈlɪk.wə.faɪ/

liquify — verb

  • liquifypresent simple I / you / we / they
  • liquifies3rd person singular
  • liquifying-ing form
  • liquifiedpast simple

1. to cause a solid material to change into a liquid, usually by applying heat, or

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to cause a solid material to change into a liquid, usually by applying heat, or to change from a solid state into a liquid in this way

Example

Caio turned up the heat to liquify the wax for making candles.

transitive: make a solid become liquid for practical use

Shirin watched the crayon on the sidewalk begin to liquify in the afternoon heat.

intransitive: solid changes to liquid naturally

Common collocations
  • liquify wax / chocolate / metal / gas / butter
  • heat to liquify
  • begin to liquify
  • liquify by heating
Synonyms
  • liquefy

    identical meaning; standard spelling in formal and scientific writing

  • melt

    more common for everyday solids like butter, ice, or chocolate; less technical

  • dissolve

    different process — a solid mixes into a liquid rather than changing its own physical state

Antonyms
  • solidify

    the opposite change: from liquid to solid

  • freeze

    specifically solidifying by lowering temperature

Grammar Patterns

liquify + object (transitive)

object + liquify / begin to liquify (intransitive)

Usage Note

Both transitive (make something liquid) and intransitive (become liquid) uses are common. Heating is the typical cause, but other processes can also produce the change. The spelling 'liquefy' is the more established standard form, though 'liquify' is widely accepted.

Common Mistakes

The butter liquified in the pan.
The butter melted in the pan.
For everyday foods, 'melt' is more natural; 'liquify' sounds overly technical.
The company decided to liquify all its assets.
The company decided to liquidate all its assets.
'Liquidate' means to sell off assets; 'liquify' only refers to changing physical state.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Liquify (or liquefy) is a technical word for the physical change of a solid into a liquid, usually by heating. 'Melt' covers the same idea in everyday language — butter melts, ice melts — while 'liquify' is more common in scientific, industrial, or cooking contexts where the process is emphasised. 'Dissolve' is different: a solid such as sugar or salt breaks apart and mixes into a liquid rather than changing its own state. 'Thaw' applies specifically to frozen things (ice, frozen meat) returning to room temperature, but the result may still be solid or semi-solid, not necessarily liquid. In daily conversation, use 'melt'; in a chemistry lab or factory manual, 'liquify' fits better.

liquefy ↗melt ↗dissolve ↗thaw ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • begin to liquify
  • heat to liquify

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Liquify is a variant spelling of liquefy, which comes from Latin liquefacere, a combination of liquēre ‘to be fluid’ and facere ‘to make’. The more standard spelling liquefy preserves the Latin -efacere ending, while liquify follows a common English pattern of using -ify for verbs that mean ‘to make’ (as in solidify, classify). Both spellings have been in use since the 16th century.