Fuses are an important safety device used to protect electrical circuits from overloads. Cements, solders, WELDS, unites, MELDS, weds, melts, smelts, and detonators are all related terms that can be used to describe the process of joining two or more materials together. Cements are a type of adhesive that binds two surfaces together, while solders are a type of metal alloy used to join two metals together. WELDS are a type of joint created by melting two pieces of metal together, while unites are a type of joint that uses pressure to hold two pieces of material together. MELDS are a type of joint created by combining two materials together, while weds are a type of joint created by using a mechanical fastener. Melts and smelts are both processes of heating a material until it becomes liquid, while detonators are devices used to initiate an explosive reaction.