deliquesce • \del-ih-KWESS\ • verb

1*: to dissolve or melt away
2 : to become soft or liquid with age or maturity -- used of some fungal structures (as the gills of a mushroom)

• Example sentence: Someone forgot to put the butter back in the refrigerator, instead leaving it to deliquesce on the kitchen counter.

• What I was doing wrong? : Before i came across this word, most probably i would have used 'dissolve' or 'melt' e.g. instead leaving it to dissolve/melt on the table.
I guess both are equally unappropriate :)

* Indicates the Meaning which is used in the example sentence