In literal craft use, fuse refers to the joining of materials by heat or close union. In poetry, it often appears when distinct elements merge so thoroughly that they become inseparable. It fits craft terms because it conveys transformation through union.

Fuse suggests an irreversible joining of separate elements into a single new whole, often used to describe the blending of disparate images, ideas, or voices within a poem; the term is particularly associated with metaphysical poetry, where poets like John Donne fuse seemingly unrelated concepts, such as scientific instruments and romantic love, into a single striking conceit; instructors might contrast fuse with join or bind, noting that fusion implies a more complete transformation in which the original separate parts can no longer be distinguished.