fuse

A small electrical part that melts and stops the current when too much electricity passes through it.

• The fuse has blown.
• We replaced the fuse and the lights came on.
• This circuit needs a fuse with the correct rating.

Common phrases: blown fuse, fuse box, replace a fuse

A cord that burns along its length to make fireworks or explosives go off.

• The fuse was burning.
• A spark lit the firework’s fuse.
• The damp fuse went out before reaching the firework.

Similar words: fusee, match

Common phrases: light a fuse, burning fuse, firework fuse

A device that makes a bomb or other explosive go off at a chosen time or condition.

• The bomb had a faulty fuse.
• The shell’s fuse was designed to respond to impact.
• Investigators examined the explosive device’s damaged fuse.

Similar words: fuze

Common phrases: bomb fuse, time fuse, delayed fuse

Someone’s tendency to become angry quickly or slowly.

• He has a short fuse.
• Her fuse gets shorter when she is tired.
• You need a long fuse to handle those constant complaints.

How to use it: have a short fuse (My boss has a short fuse when deadlines approach.)

Similar words: temper

Common phrases: short fuse, long fuse

To join things so they become one, or to become joined this way.

• The two pieces fused together.
• Her music fuses jazz with traditional folk songs.
• Heat was used to fuse the glass pieces into one sheet.

How to use it: fuse A with B (The artist fuses modern techniques with traditional designs.); fuse into something (The separate groups fused into a single organization.); fuse together (The broken bones eventually fused together.)

Similar words: merge, combine, blend

Opposites: separate

Common phrases: fuse together, fuse something together, fuse with something

To become liquid through heat, or make a solid become liquid.

• The powder fused under intense heat.
• They used a flame to fuse the material.
• At what temperature does this glass fuse?

Similar words: melt

Opposites: solidify

Common phrases: fuse the metal, fuse glass, begin to fuse

To stop working because an electrical safety part has broken the flow of electricity.

• The lights fused suddenly.
• The old circuit fused when we plugged in the heater.
• We used candles after the kitchen lights fused.

Common phrases: lights fuse, circuit may fuse