melee — a confused fight or struggle involving many people
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a confused fight or struggle involving many people
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈmeɪleɪ/
Example Sentences
- The peaceful protest quickly turned into a melee when someone threw a banana at the mayor.
- During the wedding cake cutting, a melee broke out over who got the biggest piece.
- The bar fight started as an argument but escalated into a full melee.
melee
NOUN[/ˈmeɪleɪ/]
a confused fight or struggle involving many people
A wild melee broke out in the tavern when someone spilled the wrong drink.
The ballet at the café turns into a melee!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From French mêlée, derived from the Old French verb mesler (to mix or blend), which comes from Latin miscere meaning 'to mix'. The word entered English in the 17th century to describe a confused mixture of fighting or struggling.
Breakdown
French mêlée (mixed/confused) ← Old French mesler (to mix) ← Latin miscere (to mix) = melee (a confused fight or struggle)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The peaceful protest quickly turned into a melee when someone threw a banana at the mayor.”
“During the wedding cake cutting, a melee broke out over who got the biggest piece.”
“The bar fight started as an argument but escalated into a full melee.”
“In the cafeteria food fight melee, mashed potatoes flew like snowballs.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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