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Melee: meaning, definitions and examples

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melee

 

[ ˈmeɪleɪ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in combat

Melee refers to a chaotic hand-to-hand combat involving multiple participants. It often occurs in close quarters, leading to a disorganized and intense fight. Participants in a melee typically use weapons or physical force to overpower their opponents.

Synonyms

brawl, fracas, scuffle, skirmish

Examples of usage

  • The soldiers engaged in a fierce melee, swinging their swords wildly.
  • During the riot, a melee broke out between the opposing groups.
Context #2 | Noun

in gaming

In gaming, melee refers to close combat attacks or weapons, such as swords, knives, or fists, that are used at short range. It often requires physical proximity to the target and involves direct confrontation.

Synonyms

close combat, close quarters combat, hand-to-hand combat

Examples of usage

  • The character excels in melee combat, delivering powerful blows with his sword.
  • Players can choose between long-range weapons or melee weapons in the game.

Translations

Translations of the word "melee" in other languages:

🇵🇹 corpo a corpo

🇮🇳 निकट युद्ध

🇩🇪 Nahkampf

🇮🇩 jarak dekat

🇺🇦 бій на близькій відстані

🇵🇱 walka wręcz

🇯🇵 近接戦闘 (きんせつせんとう)

🇫🇷 corps à corps

🇪🇸 cuerpo a cuerpo

🇹🇷 yakın dövüş

🇰🇷 근접전

🇸🇦 قتال قريب

🇨🇿 boj zblízka

🇸🇰 boj zblízka

🇨🇳 近战 (jìnzhàn)

🇸🇮 boj od blizu

🇮🇸 nærbardagi

🇰🇿 жақын ұрыс

🇬🇪 ახლო ბრძოლა

🇦🇿 yaxın döyüş

🇲🇽 cuerpo a cuerpo

Etymology

The word 'melee' originated from the French term 'mêlée', which means 'mixture' or 'confused mass'. It was first used in English in the mid-17th century to describe a confused fight or scuffle. Over time, 'melee' has come to be associated with both physical combat and gaming, highlighting the close and intense nature of the encounters.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,165, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.