875
menagerie
(AWAY)] to gradually disappear: I don't know where my money
goes – it just seems to melt (away). | The crowd of demonstra-
tors melted away when the police arrived. 4 [(into)] (of a
colour, sound, or sensation) to become lost in another by
moving gently: The trumpet call melts gradually into the
orchestral background. 5 melt in the mouth apprec (of solid
food) to be easy and extremely pleasant to eat: These
chocolates really melt in your mouth.
The adjective molten means melted but it is used
only of things that melt at a very high temperature. Compare
molten rock/metal and melted chocolate/butter.
melt sthg. down phr v [T] to make (a metal object) liquid by
heating, especially so as to use the metal again
melt2 n especially AmE patty/tuna/cheese etc melt a type of
SANDWICH that is served hot with melted cheese on it
melt-down /'meltdaʊn/ n [C;U] the melting of the material
inside an atomic REACTOR so that it burns through its
container and allows dangerous RADIOACTIVITY to escape
melt-ing /'meltɪŋ/ adj (especially of a voice) gentle, soft, and
pleasant —ly adv
'melting point n the temperature at which a particular solid
melts
'melting pot n 1 a place where there is a mixing of people
of different races and nations: America has been a melting
pot since its beginnings. 2 in the melting pot not fixed;
likely to be changed
Mel·ville, Her·man /'melvɪl, 'hɜːmən||'hɜːr-/ (1819-91) a
US writer who wrote about his experiences as a sailor. His
best-known book is MOBY-DICK, one of the most famous
American novels, which was also made into a well-known
film. He also wrote Billy Budd, a story which Benjamin
BRITTEN used in his OPERA of the same name.
mem·ber /'membə/ n 1 [(of)] a person belonging to a club,
group etc: a member of the family | a member of a political
party | She became a member of the committee. | The club bar
is open to members only. → see also PRIVATE MEMBER 2 a)
fml an organ or limb of the body b) lit euph the male sexual
organ
Member of 'Congress n someone who has been elected
to represent people in the US Congress
Member of 'Parliament n an MP
mem·ber·ship /'membəʃɪp||-ər-/ n 1 [U(of)] the state of
being a member of a club, society etc: I must renew my
membership of the sailing club. | Have you applied for mem-
bership? 2 [C+sing./pl. v] all the members of a club, society
etc: We're trying to increase our membership. | a small/large
membership | The membership disagree/disagrees on the pro-
posed change in the rules.
mem·brane /'membreɪn/ n [C;U] (a) very soft thin skin,
especially in the body, covering or connecting parts of a
structure: A vibrating membrane in the ear helps to convey
sounds to the brain. —branous /'membrənəs/ adj
me·men·to /mə'mentəʊ/ n pl. -tos [(of)] a small object
which reminds one of a holiday, a friend etc
mem·o /'meməʊ/ n pl. -os 1 also memorandum fml — a note
from one person or office to another within the same firm
or organization 2 a note of something to be remembered: I
made a memo on my memo pad to buy more coffee.
mem·oir /'memwɑː/ n [(of)] fml a short piece of writing on a
subject, especially the story of someone else's life
mem·oirs /'memwɑːz||-ɑːrz/ n [P] a written account of one's
own life and experiences, especially one written by a person
who has been active in politics or war; AUTOBIOGRAPHY: The
old general has started to write his memoirs. → compare
REMINISCENCES
mem·o·ra·bil·ia /ˌmemərə'bɪliə/ n [P] things that are
interesting in connection with a famous person or event: a
collection of Shelley memorabilia, including several letters
and a piece of his hair
mem·o·ra·ble /'memərəbəl/ adj [(for)] worth remembering;
special in some way: The film was memorable for (=remem-
bered because of) its fine acting. | a memorable trip abroad
—bly adv: a memorably awful performance
mem·o·ran·dum /ˌmemə'rændəm/ n pl. -da /də/ or
-dums 1 fml for MEMO 2 fml or law a written agreement
Memo.randum of Association n a legal document in
the UK, which a new LIMITED COMPANY needs before it can
start doing business. It gives information about things such
as the company's business activities, its address, its CAPITAL,
and its SHARES
me-mo-ri-al /mə'mɔːriəl/ n [(to)] something, especially a
stone MONUMENT in memory of a person, event etc: a war
memorial (=in memory of dead soldiers) | a memorial
sculpture | The church service is a memorial to those killed in
the war.
Memorial Day a US legal holiday, the last Monday in
May, when people remember those killed in wars: Memorial
Day weekend → see Feature on page A18
me-mo-ri-a-lize also -ise BrE /mə'mɔːriəlaɪz/ v [T] to do
something so that a person or event will be remembered by
people
mem·o·rize also -ise BrE /'meməraɪz/ v [T] to learn and
remember (words etc) on purpose: He memorized the list of
dates.
mem·o·ry /'meməri/ n 1 [S(for);U] (an) ability to remember
events and experiences: She's got a good/bad memory for
faces. | He played the tune from memory. (=without written
music) | I've got a memory like a sieve! (=I often forget
things!) | I was sure I'd put my glasses down on this table – my
memory is playing tricks on me. (=I am remembering
things incorrectly) 2 [C(of)] an event or experience that one
remembers from the past: One of my earliest memories is of
playing in the garden. 3 [C] the part of a computer in which
information (DATA) can be stored until it is wanted: The
computer has a 256K memory. 4 if my memory serves me
(well/correctly) (used for showing that one is almost sure
that one has remembered something correctly): We first met
in Egypt, if my memory serves me. 5 in memory of as a way
of remembering or reminding others of: She set up the
charitable trust in memory of her father. 6 someone's
memory a) the time during which things happened which
someone can remember: There have been two wars within the
memory of my grandfather/ (with)in living memory.
(=which can be remembered by people now alive) b)
someone as thought of after their death: Her memory has
always been held in the highest regard. 7 down memory
lane into the past, especially when it is enjoyable to remem-
ber: We had a little trip down memory lane last night, looking
at all the old photographs.
Mem·phis /'memfɪs/ the largest city in the state of Tennes-
see, US, on the Mississippi River, which is a port and indus-
trial centre and is also known for being the home of Elvis
PRESLEY
mem-sahib /'memˌsɑb||-,sɑːhɪb, -,sɑːb/ n IndE & PakE a
European woman, or an Indian woman of high social class
→ compare SAHIB
men /men/ n [P] 1 pl. of MAN 2 infml separate the men from
the boys to separate those who have more skill or determi-
nation from those who are less able: The run over the
mountains will soon separate the men from the boys. 3 men
in white coats/jackets euph humor employees from a PSYCHI-
ATRIC HOSPITAL who are mentioned in jokes as coming to
take mentally ill people away to hospital: If he goes on like
this for much longer we'll have to send for the men in white
coats!
men·ace1 /'menəs/ n 1 [C(to);U] a threat or danger: He spoke
with menace. (=threateningly and frighteningly) | The busy
road is a menace to the children's safety. 2 [C] infml an
extremely troublesome person or thing: The man's worse
than irritating. He's a positive menace! → see also DENNIS
THE MENACE
menace2 v [T] fml to threaten: the pollution which is menac-
ing our countryside | dark menacing clouds (=threatening a
storm) —acingly adv
mé·nage /'meɪnɑːʒ||mə'nɑːʒ/ n [C+sing./pl. v] a house and the
people who live in it; HOUSEHOLD
ménage à trois /meɪnɑːʒ ɑ 'trwɑ||məˌnɑːʒ-/ n [S] Fr a
relationship in which two people and a lover of one of the
pair live together
me·na·ge·rie /mə'nædʒəri/ n a collection of wild animals
kept privately or for the public to see; ZOO