mash

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈmash

mashed; mashing; mashes

Synonyms of mash

transitive verb

1

a

: to reduce to a soft pulpy state by beating or pressure

b

: crush, smash

mash a finger

2

: to subject (a substance, such as crushed malt) to the action of water with heating and stirring in preparing wort

mash

2 of 5

noun (1)

1

: a mixture of ground feeds for livestock

2

: crushed malt or grain meal steeped and stirred in hot water to produce wort

3

: a soft pulpy mass

4

British : mashed potatoes

mash

3 of 5

noun (2)

: crush sense 1

mash

4 of 5

verb (2)

mashed; mashing; mashes

transitive verb

: to flirt with or seek the affection of

MASH

5 of 5

abbreviation

mobile army surgical hospital

Examples of mash in a Sentence

Verb (1) this press can mash 10 bushels of apples at a time mash the ripe banana before adding it to the mixture Noun (2) she's usually got a mash on moviedom's hunk du jour

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

Both will be made using traditional British pie-making techniques and accompanied with endless servings of mash. —Rachel Dube, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025 Cabbage and other hearty brassicas and greens, such as kale and mustard, can be added to the mash, and leeks can replace the green onions or scallions. —Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025

Verb

If meat isn’t on the menu, this handy tool can mix and mash up other foods, including fruits for jam. —Amber Guetebier, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2025 No new monsters, no new weapons, just more mazes to mash through. —Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mash

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English mash-, from Old English māx-; akin to Middle High German meisch mash

Noun (2)

perhaps from mash entry 1

First Known Use

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (1)

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1870, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of mash was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

Maseru

mash

MASH

See all Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Mash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mash. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

mash

1 of 2 noun

ˈmash

1

: crushed malt or grain meal soaked and stirred in hot water

2

: a mixture of ground feeds for livestock

3

: a soft pulpy mass

mash

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make into a soft pulpy mass by beating or pressure

2

: to expose crushed malt to the action of water with heating and stirring

masher noun

Medical Definition

MASH

abbreviation

mobile army surgical hospital

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