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Glite Dictionary
to liquesce

to liquesce

9.9
To change from a solid into a liquid, like ice or wax, often by heat
  • verb
  • /lɪˈkwɛs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : licuarse
  • The ice will liquesce in the warm sun.

Examples

  • Snowflakes quickly liquesce on contact with the warm pavement.

  • At room temperature, the wax will liquesce and can be poured into molds.

  • Some metals liquesce at relatively low temperatures, making them useful for casting.

  • Heat can cause the solid to liquesce quickly.

  • When heated, the chocolate will liquesce and become smooth enough to pour over desserts.

  • Some types of cheese liquesce at baking temperatures and become creamy.

  • If you leave the butter out of the refrigerator, it will liquesce and spread easily.

Synonyms

to liquefy
vsto liquesce
  • Specialized
18 4.4

To change a solid or gas into a liquid, often by heating

is limited to solids melting by heat, not phase change from gas or pressure
to liquate
vsto liquesce
  • Specialized
9.5

To become liquid because of heat

is about solids turning liquid specifically by the application of heat
to liquify
vsto liquesce
4.5

Make a solid melt so it can flow

describes a solid becoming liquid by heat rather than an acted change
to liquidize
vsto liquesce
  • US
4.2

To make something into a liquid by heating or blending

focuses on a solid melting by heat rather than mechanical blending

Antonyms

to solidify
55 4.4

To change from a liquid or gas into a hard state as it cools

How Liquid

to liquesce
  • Specialized
9.9
to melt
362 1.0
thaw
  • UK
12 2.0

Surface Forms

liquesce infinitive
liquesced past
liquesced past participle
liquescing present participle
liquesces third person singular

Morphology

liquesce = liquid (semi-transparent) = liqu + esce

The meaning 'become liquid' follows from 'liquid' + the inchoative suffix '-esce', but '-esce' is a learned/Latin-forming suffix unfamiliar to many learners.

Etymology

Liquesce comes from the old Latin verb liquēscere, from the root liqu- meaning 'liquid'. So, to liquesce is to 'become liquid' — to melt or turn into a liquid, often by heat.