verb
smelt
SMELT/smelt/
To extract metal from ore by heating.
The furnace smelts iron ore, sending molten metal into a trough.
Etymology
Smelten meant melting or liquefying. In English, smelt applies that heat-driven process especially to ore in a furnace, where the purpose is to separate out the metal.
In context
When they process the tin and smelt it, the waste slag can be further treated to extract tantalum.
More examples
- Workers smelt copper ore to extract the metal.
- This plant smelted lead ore for decades.
- Smelting ore requires intense heat.
Forms
smelt · smelts · smelted · smelting
smelter noun — A furnace or facility for smelting ore.