Incipient melting refers to the initial stages of melting, which often involve a gradual increase in temperature and the softening and deformation of solid materials. There are numerous synonyms for incipient melting that are commonly used in scientific and technical contexts. For instance, the terms pre-melting, thawing, softening, and melting initiation are often used to describe the initial phases of melting. Other related terms include the melting point depression, melting onset, and solid-liquid transition. These synonyms are useful for scientists and engineers who need to describe or analyze the melting behavior of various materials, such as metals, ice, or polymers.