1To put a solid into a liquid so that it becomes incorporated into it; a verb commonly used in cooking and science.
コーヒーに砂糖を溶かしてから飲む。
I dissolve sugar in my coffee before drinking it.
洗剤を水に溶かしてから床を拭いた。
I dissolved the detergent in water before wiping the floor.
この薬は口の中で溶かして飲むタイプだ。
This medicine is the type you dissolve in your mouth before swallowing.
2To apply heat to change a solid into a liquid; often used for butter, chocolate, or snow. For melting metal, 熔かす or 鎔かす may be used instead.
鍋でチョコレートを溶かしてケーキに使った。
I melted chocolate in a pot and used it for the cake.
春になると、山の雪が少しずつ溶かされていく。
When spring comes, the mountain snow gradually melts away.
工場では鉄を高温で鎔かして加工している。
At the factory, iron is melted at high temperatures for processing.