plural smelts or smelt
: any of a family (Osmeridae) of small bony fishes that closely resemble the trouts in general structure, live along coasts and ascend rivers to spawn or are landlocked, and have delicate oily flesh with a distinctive odor and taste
smelted; smelting; smelts
1
: to melt or fuse (a substance, such as ore) often with an accompanying chemical change usually to separate the metal
smelt
3 of 3chiefly British past participle of smell entry 1
Examples of smelt in a Sentence
Verb
the process used for smelting iron ore
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Garone, Health, 27 Aug. 2025
Johnson said authorities were searching for him in the area of Stumptown Road, west of Anaconda, a copper smelt town founded in the late 1800s.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 1 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
The International Atomic Energy Agency said evidence suggests that activities at a smelting facility or from disposal of scrap metal could be the cause.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smelt
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Noun
In a May Public Health Nutrition study of nearly 81,000 Japanese subjects, eating little fish like mackerel, sardines, and smelt was associated with a lower risk of cancer and all-cause mortality as people aged.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 27 Aug. 2025
Johnson said authorities were searching for him in the area of Stumptown Road, west of Anaconda, a copper smelt town founded in the late 1800s.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
They are also known to trick miners into quarrying worthless ore, following veins of what appears to be copper or silver, but when smelted, is found to be without value or, worse, poisonous.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
The International Atomic Energy Agency said evidence suggests that activities at a smelting facility or from disposal of scrap metal could be the cause.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smelt
Cite this Entry
“Smelt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smelt. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
smelt
1 of 2 noun
plural smelts or smelt
: any of several very small food fishes that look like the related trouts and live in fresh water or in coastal sea waters
smelt
2 of 2 verb1
: to melt (as ore) usually in order to separate the metal
2
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