fuse

1.
v. & n.
—v.
1 tr. & intr. melt with intense heat; liquefy.
2 tr. & intr. blend or amalgamate into one whole by or as by melting.
3 tr. provide (a circuit, plug, etc.) with a fuse.
4 a intr. (of an appliance) cease to function when a fuse blows. b tr. cause (an appliance) to do this.
—n. a device or component for protecting an electric circuit, containing a strip of wire of easily melted metal and placed in the circuit so as to break it by melting when an excessive current passes through.
Phrases and idioms:
fuse-box a box housing the fuses for circuits in a building.
Etymology: L fundere fus- pour, melt
2.
n. & v. (also fuze)
—n.
1 a device for igniting a bomb or explosive charge, consisting of a tube or cord etc. filled or saturated with combustible matter.
2 a component in a shell, mine, etc., designed to detonate an explosive charge on impact, after an interval, or when subjected to a magnetic or vibratory stimulation.
—v.tr. fit a fuse to.
Derivatives:
fuseless adj.
Etymology: It. fuso f. L fusus spindle