Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- any of various alloys fused and applied to the joint between metal objects to unite them without heating the objects to the melting point.
- anything that joins or unites: the solder of their common cause.
verb (used with object)
- to join (metal objects) with solder.
- to join closely and intimately: two fates inseparably soldered by misfortune.
- to mend; repair; patch up.
verb (used without object)
- to unite things with solder.
- to become soldered or united; grow together.
noun
- an alloy for joining two metal surfaces by melting the alloy so that it forms a thin layer between the surfaces. Soft solders are alloys of lead and tin; brazing solders are alloys of copper and zinc
- something that joins things together firmly; a bond
verb
- to join or mend or be joined or mended with or as if with solder
mid-14c., sawd “mend by soldering,” from solder (n.). Modern form is a re-Latinization from early 15c. Related: Soldered; soldering.
early 14c., soudur, from Old French soldure, soudeure, from souder, originally solder, “to consolidate, close, fasten together, join with solder” (13c.), from Latin solidare “to make solid,” from solidus “solid” (see solid (adj.)).
Modern form in English is a re-Latinization from early 15c. The loss of Latin -l- in that position on the way to Old French is regular, e.g. poudre from pulverem, cou from collum, chaud from calidus. The -l- typically is sounded in British English but not in American, according to OED, but cf. Fowler, who wrote that solder without the “l” was “The only pronunciation I have ever heard, except from the half-educated to whom spelling is a final court of appeal …” and was baffled by the OED’s statement that it was American. Related: Soldered; soldering. The noun is first attested late 14c.