spec. To separate (metal) from the ore or dross by melting; to refine, purify by fire; also, to remove (the dross or impurity) from metal by fire…

transitive. To fuse or melt (ore, etc.) in order to extract the metal; to obtain or produce (metal) by this process.

transitive. To form (molten metal) into ingots, pigs, etc., by allowing to flow into moulds; †to smelt (obsolete).

transitive. Chemistry and Metallurgy. To convert (ore, calx, etc.) into metal, esp. by smelting; to smelt (a metal). Cf. reduction, n. 11b.

transitive. Chemistry. To separate (a metal or other substance) from a mixture, ore, etc., by melting; to smelt (an ore).

transitive. To smelt for a second or further time. Also figurative.

transitive. To reduce (ores).