soldering

IPA/ˈsəʊl.dər/
KK[sˈɑdɚɪŋ]IPA/ˈsɑː.dɚ/

soldering — noun

1. a soft metal mixture that turns liquid under heat and, once cooled, hardens into

1.nounC1
Definition

a soft metal mixture that turns liquid under heat and, once cooled, hardens into a firm bond holding two metal parts together

Example

Pim heated the iron until the soldering on the wire began to melt.

collocation: heat the soldering until it melts

Old soldering on Nikos's vintage radio board had cracked after twenty years of use.

Common collocations
  • lead-free soldering
  • melt the soldering
  • apply soldering
Synonyms
  • solder

    the more common base noun for the same alloy; soldering is the gerund-derived variant used in some technical contexts

  • tin solder

    a more specific term when the alloy is tin-based

Grammar Patterns

apply soldering to [metal]

use soldering on [surface]

Usage Note

Treated as an uncountable mass noun like 'wire' or 'glue' — say 'some soldering', not 'a soldering'. Distinguish from sense 2 (the act) by context: a workshop sells 'a roll of soldering' (material) but teaches 'soldering' (skill).

Common Mistakes

I bought three solderings at the shop.
I bought three rolls of soldering at the shop.
soldering is an uncountable material; count it by container or length, not as separate items.

2. the activity of fixing two metal pieces together by melting a soft metal mixture

2.nounB2
Definition

the activity of fixing two metal pieces together by melting a soft metal mixture between them so that the join holds when the mixture turns hard again

Example

Theo signed up for a weekend class on soldering at the local maker space.

collocation: a class on soldering

Yan's careful soldering kept the old headphone cable working for another five years.

Common collocations
  • learn soldering
  • practise soldering
  • finish the soldering
Synonyms
  • brazing

    a related joining technique that uses a stronger filler metal and higher temperatures; not used for delicate electronics

  • welding

    a stronger joining process that melts the parent metal itself, not just a filler alloy

Antonyms
  • desoldering

    the reverse activity — removing solder to separate two joined pieces

Grammar Patterns

learn soldering

do soldering

Usage Note

Refers to the activity or technique itself, as in a skill you study or a job you finish. Distinguish from sense 1 (the material) — sense 2 names what you DO, not what you APPLY.

soldering — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

These three terms all name ways of joining metal, but they sit on a scale of heat and strength. Soldering is the gentlest: it melts a soft tin- or lead-based alloy at around 200°C, which is cool enough for tiny electronics and thin wires. Brazing sits in the middle, using a harder filler metal that melts above 450°C — strong enough for plumbing and bicycle frames. Welding is the most extreme: the two parent metals themselves are melted and fused, producing the strongest joint but also the most heat and risk. A learner mending headphones picks soldering; a plumber fitting copper pipes picks brazing; a shipyard worker joining steel plates picks welding.

soldering ↗welding ↗brazing ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Soldering is the -ing form of the verb 'solder', which entered English in the 14th century from Old French 'soudure', itself from Latin 'solidare' meaning 'to make solid'. The Latin root also gives us 'solid' and 'consolidate'. The 'l' was reinstated in spelling in the 16th century to match the Latin source, though many English speakers still pronounce the word without it.