plural smelts or smelt
: any of a family (Osmeridae) of small bony fishes that closely resemble the trouts in general structure, live along coasts and ascend rivers to spawn or are landlocked, and have delicate oily flesh with a distinctive odor and taste
smelted; smelting; smelts
1
: to melt or fuse (a substance, such as ore) often with an accompanying chemical change usually to separate the metal
smelt
3 of 3chiefly British past participle of smell entry 1
Examples of smelt in a Sentence
Verb
the process used for smelting iron ore
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025
Some politicians have also claimed that protections for a tiny endangered fish species called the delta smelt are impeding firefighters' abilities to battle the blaze because of water diversion.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 14 Jan. 2025
Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025
The president-elect also alleged Newsom cared more about protecting the Delta smelt, a small endangered fish species that lives in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, than Californians with his water policies.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
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Noun
California environmental authorities have detected no wild smelt in the delta since 2017.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025
Some politicians have also claimed that protections for a tiny endangered fish species called the delta smelt are impeding firefighters' abilities to battle the blaze because of water diversion.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
Scoville added that the Delta smelt, in particular, has repeatedly been blamed by politicians, including Trump, for environmental problems in California.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025
The president-elect also alleged Newsom cared more about protecting the Delta smelt, a small endangered fish species that lives in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, than Californians with his water policies.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for smelt
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Cite this Entry
“Smelt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smelt. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
smelt
1 of 2 noun
plural smelts or smelt
: any of several very small food fishes that look like the related trouts and live in fresh water or in coastal sea waters
smelt
2 of 2 verb1
: to melt (as ore) usually in order to separate the metal
2
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