Use welding for the process, trade, or activity. Use weld for the finished joint and welder for the person or machine that does the work.
Use welding for the process, trade, or activity. Use weld for the finished joint and welder for the person or machine that does the work.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The weldings on the frame were uneven. | The welds on the frame were uneven. |
| She inspected the welding for cracks in each joint. | She inspected the welds for cracks in each joint. |
| Soldering always melts the base metal, just like welding. | Welding usually melts the base material, while soldering uses a lower-melting filler. |
| The company hired a welding for the repair. | The company hired a welder for the repair. |
Use welding in progressive and gerund verb patterns, such as is welding, were welding, and kept welding. Use weld after will, can, must, and to.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| They will welding the chassis tomorrow. | They will weld the chassis tomorrow. |
| She needs welding the pipe today. | She needs to weld the pipe today. |
| He kept weld the bracket after the alarm sounded. | He kept welding the bracket after the alarm sounded. |
| The crew is weld the beams now. | The crew is welding the beams now. |
Use welding figuratively when the union feels strong and deliberate. For a looser mix, combining or blending is usually clearer.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The essay is welding two topics by mentioning them once. | The essay mentions two topics once. |
| The playlist welds jazz next to silence. | The playlist alternates jazz with silence. |
| The architect is welding old stone with new glass in one design. | The architect is welding old stone and new glass into one design. |
| The coach welded the players when they never met. | The coach brought the players together after they met. |
Use welding for the activity or process, for progressive verb forms such as is welding, and for figurative joining. Use weld for the finished joint or after modals such as can and will.
Welds are the finished joints, while welding is the process or action. After will, can, or to, use weld, not welding.
From weld, an alteration of obsolete English well meaning to boil, from Middle English wellen. The verb weld is recorded from the late 1500s, and the noun weld from the 1800s.
What does welding mean?
Welding is the process or action of joining materials by heat, pressure, or both, especially metal or thermoplastic parts.
Is welding a noun or a verb?
It can be both. As a noun, welding names the process or trade. As a verb, it is the progressive or gerund form of weld.
What is the difference between welding and a weld?
Welding is the process or action. A weld is usually the finished joint made by that process.
Can welding be used figuratively?
Yes. It can describe uniting ideas, styles, groups, or parts into a close whole.
What materials can be joined by welding?
The word most often applies to metals, but it can also apply to thermoplastics and some specialized processes for other materials.
What is the difference between welding and soldering?
Welding usually melts the base material, while soldering joins parts with a lower-melting filler.
What are common types of welding?
Common types include arc welding, MIG welding, TIG welding, resistance welding, laser welding, and friction welding.
Where does welding come from?
Welding comes from weld, which developed from an older English verb meaning to boil.