welding
Meaning
the process of joining two pieces of metal or plastic by heating the surfaces to the point of melting and then pressing or hammering them together.
the activity or job of joining materials by welding.
Structure
Usage
arc welding requires a power supply to create an electric arc between the metal and the electrode.
he took a course in welding and found a job at a shipyard.
the strength of the joint depends on the quality of the welding.
Etymology
The modern word 'welding' originates from the Old English verb 'wellan', meaning 'to boil' or 'to melt', which is related to the concept of controlling molten material. This root evolved through Middle English, influenced by the similar-sounding 'weld', a variant of 'well', and became associated with the specific technique of joining metals by fusing them. The addition of the '-ing' suffix transforms the action into a noun denoting the process or profession. Thus, the term's journey reflects a semantic narrowing from the general act of melting to the precise industrial practice of creating a permanent bond between materials.
Analysis
weld (from old english 'wellan' or 'wieldan', meaning 'to boil, to melt, to control') + ing (old english suffix forming verbal nouns and gerunds, indicating an action or its result).