fuse
pronunciation
How to pronounce fuse in British English:
UK [fjuːz]
How to pronounce fuse in American English:
US [fjuːz]
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- Noun:
- electrical device that can interrupt the flow of electrical current when it is overloaded
- any igniter that is used to initiate the burning of a propellant
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- Verb:
- mix together different elements
- become plastic or fluid or liquefied from heat
- equip with a fuse; provide with a fuse
- make liquid or plastic by heating
Word Origin
- fuse
- fuse: English has two distinct words fuse. The noun, ‘igniting device’ [17], comes via Italian fuso from Latin fūsus ‘spindle’, a word of unknown origin. Its modern application comes from the fact that the long thin shape of the original gunpowder-filled tubes used for setting off bombs reminded people of spindles. The Vulgar Latin diminutive form of fūsus, *fūsellus, gave French fuseau ‘spindle’, which is the ultimate source of English fuselage [20] (etymologically, ‘something shaped like a spindle’).The verb fuse ‘melt’ [17] probably comes from fūsus, the past participle of Latin fundere ‘pour, melt’ (source of English found, foundry, and fusion [16]).=> fuselage; found, foundry, fusion
- fuse (v.)
- 1680s, "to melt, make liquid by heat" (transitive), back-formation from fusion. Intransitive sense, "to become liquid," attested from 1800. Figurative sense of "blend different things, blend or unite as if by melting together" is recorded by 1817. Intransitive figurative sense "become intermingled or blended" is by 1873. Related: Fused; fusing.
- fuse (n.)
- "combustible cord or tube for lighting an explosive device," also fuze, 1640s, from Italian fuso, literally "spindle" (the ignition device so called for its shape, because the originals were long, thin tubes filled with gunpowder), from Latin fusus "a spindle," which is of uncertain origin. Influenced by French cognate fusée "spindleful of hemp fiber," and obsolete English fusee "musket fired by a fuse," which is from French. Meaning "device that breaks an electrical circuit" is first recorded 1884, so named for its shape, but erroneously attributed to fuse (v.) because it melts.
Example
- 1. Its fuse has been merrily fizzing for nine long years .
- 2. Stars like our sun fuse hydrogen in their cores into helium .
- 3. Downward mobility is an ever-shortening fuse leading to profound consequences .
- 4. That could shed light on what happens when the wiring gets connected wrongly and , as it were , blows a neurological fuse .
- 5. The bomb has a very long fuse , however .