Chapter Melograph to Memory of M by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Melograph to Memory

Melograph
(Mel"o*graph) n. [Gr. me`los a song + -graph : cf. F. mélographe.] Same as Melodiograph.

Melolonthidian
(Mel`o*lon*thid"i*an) n. [Gr. the cockchafer.] (Zoöl.) A beetle of the genus Melolontha, and allied genera. See May beetle, under May.

Melon
(Mel"on) n. [F., fr. L. melo, for melopepo an apple-shaped melon, Gr. ; mh^lon apple + a species of large melon; cf. L. malum apple. Cf. Marmalade.]

1. (Bot.) The juicy fruit of certain cucurbitaceous plants, as the muskmelon, watermelon, and citron melon; also, the plant that produces the fruit.

2. (Zoöl.) A large, ornamental, marine, univalve shell of the genus Melo.

Melon beetle (Zoöl.), a small leaf beetle which damages the leaves of melon vines. — Melon cactus, Melon thistle. (a) (Bot.) A genus of cactaceous plants (Melocactus) having a fleshy and usually globose stem with the surface divided into spiny longitudinal ridges, and bearing at the top a prickly and woolly crown in which the small pink flowers are half concealed. M. communis, from the West Indies, is often cultivated, and sometimes called Turk's cap. (b) The related genus Mamillaria, in which the stem is tubercled rather than ribbed, and the flowers sometimes large. See Illust. under Cactus.

Melopiano
(Mel`o*pi*a"no) n. [Gr. me`los song + E. piano.] A piano having a mechanical attachment which enables the player to prolong the notes at will.

Meloplastic
(Mel`o*plas"tic) a. Of or pertaining to meloplasty, or the artificial formation of a new cheek.

Meloplasty
(Mel"o*plas`ty) n. [Gr. mh^lon an apple, a cheek + - plasty: cf. F. méloplastie.] (Surg.) The process of restoring a cheek which has been destroyed wholly or in part.

Melopœia
(||Mel`o*pœ"ia) n. [NL., fr. Gr. me`los song + poiei^n to make.] (Mus.) The art of forming melody; melody; — now often used for a melodic passage, rather than a complete melody.

Melotype
(Mel"o*type) n. (Photog.) A picture produced by a process in which development after exposure may be deferred indefinitely, so as to permit transportation of exposed plates; also, the process itself.

Melpomene
(Mel*pom"e*ne) n. [L., fr. Gr. lit., the songstress, fr. to sing.]

1. (Class. Myth.) The Muse of tragedy.

2. (Astron.) The eighteenth asteroid.

Melrose
(Mel"rose) n. Honey of roses.

Melt
(Melt) n. (Zoöl.) See 2d Milt.

Melt
(Melt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Melted (obs.) p. p. Molten ; p. pr. & vb. n. Melting.] [AS. meltan; akin to Gr. me`ldein, E. malt, and prob. to E. smelt, v. &radic108. Cf. Smelt, v., Malt, Milt the spleen.]

1. To reduce from a solid to a liquid state, as by heat; to liquefy; as, to melt wax, tallow, or lead; to melt ice or snow.

2. Hence: To soften, as by a warming or kindly influence; to relax; to render gentle or susceptible to mild influences; sometimes, in a bad sense, to take away the firmness of; to weaken.

Thou would'st have . . . melted down thy youth.

Shak.

For pity melts the mind to love.

Dryden.