WordGarden.iomash
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈæʃ/
US
- /ˈmæʃ/
Meanings
Verb
to crush food into a soft mass or puree
to crush or press something into a soft, damaged, or pulpy mass
Noun
soft food made by mashing, especially mashed potatoes or similar dishes
a mixture of crushed malt or grain and hot water used in brewing or distilling
Beyond the definition
To mash something is to crush it until it becomes soft, like mashed potatoes. But "mash" is not just for food. You can mash buttons on a controller while playing a video game, or mash together different ideas to make something new. It often suggests a rough, forceful kind of mixing rather than a careful one. In a crowd, you might get mashed against other people. A DJ can also mash up two songs by blending them into one new track.
"Mash" is a flexible word built around the idea of crushing or combining something with force. At first, it described pressing food into a soft mass, like potatoes for a side dish or fruit for jam. "She carefully mashed the bananas with a fork." That meaning is still common today: you mash garlic to bring out its flavor, and you might mash avocados to make guacamole.
However, "mash" has spread beyond the kitchen. In gaming, to mash buttons means to press them again and again very quickly, often without much precision. "He was mashing the jump button trying to reach the higher platform." In a more figurative way, mashing can mean mixing things together in an energetic or messy way. A DJ might mash up two songs by blending their beats and melodies into a "mashup." You could also say you are mashing different ideas together during a brainstorming session, testing what works.
In crowded situations, "mashed" describes being pressed tightly against other people. "The crowd was so dense we were all mashed together." It suggests very little personal space and a feeling of being pushed around. So, whether it is turning ingredients into something soft, hitting buttons in a rush, mixing songs or ideas, or being squeezed in a crowd, to mash is to crush, press, or combine things with force and not much care.
Examples
- 1
Food preparation
Mash the bananas with a fork before you add them to the cake mix.
- 2
Garlic paste
She mashed the garlic into a paste.
- Patternmash X into Y
crush X until it becomes that form
- 3
Accidental damage
The bread got mashed at the bottom of my bag.
- Phraseget mashed
become crushed or pressed out of shape
- 4
Controls
Stop mashing the buttons and press them one at a time.
- Patternmash a button/key
press it hard or repeatedly
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Music mixing
The DJ mashed two songs together for the opening set.
- Patternmash X together
combine things, especially music or video
- 6
Pub food
We ordered bangers and mash at the pub.
- Usagebangers and mash
sausages with mashed potatoes, common in British English
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- mashnounverb
Forms
- mashedpast tenseverbnoun
- mashing-ing formverbnoun
- mashesverbnoun