mangle

¹ American  

[mang-guhl] / ˈmæŋ gəl /

verb (used with object)

mangled, mangling

1. to injure severely, disfigure, or mutilate by cutting, slashing, or crushing.

   The coat sleeve was mangled in the gears of the machine.

2. to spoil or ruin; mar badly.

   The story was mangled by a clumsy translation.

   Synonyms:

   destroy, deface

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mangle ² American  

[mang-guhl] / ˈmæŋ gəl /

noun

1. a machine for smoothing or pressing clothes, household linen, etc., by means of heated rollers.

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verb (used with object)

mangled, mangling

1. to smooth or press with a mangle.

2. Metalworking. to squeeze (metal plates) between rollers.

mangle ¹ British  

/ ˈmæŋɡəl /

verb

1. to mutilate, disfigure, or destroy by cutting, crushing, or tearing

2. to ruin, spoil, or mar

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mangle ² British  

/ ˈmæŋɡəl /

noun

1. Also called: wringer.  a machine for pressing or drying wet textiles, clothes, etc, consisting of two heavy rollers between which the cloth is passed

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verb

1. to press or dry in a mangle

Related Words

See maim.

Other Word Forms

• mangled
  adjective
• mangler
  noun

Etymology

Origin of mangle¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French mangler, perhaps dissimilated variant of Old French mangonner “to mangle”; akin to mangonel

Origin of mangle²

1765–75; < Dutch mangel ≪ Late Latin manganum. See mangonel

Explanation

When you mangle something, you completely destroy it, by ripping, cutting, crushing, or otherwise mauling it into pieces. You shouldn't leave your new puppy alone in a room with your favorite shoes because he might mangle them with his sharp puppy teeth. A bad accident will mangle your bicycle, bending it beyond repair, and a paper shredder mangles a document by slicing it up. You can also use the word mangle to describe what happens when your uncle's terrible bluegrass band performs a cover of your favorite classic rock song — they mangle it.

Example Sentences

This hot streak has included larger-group efforts like “The Will to Adorn” and “As We May Feel” — as well as more intimate pieces like the “The Mangle of Practice.”

From New York Times • Aug. 22, 2022

He also said that security at Mangle E8 was "poor", adding that had it been better, the injuries and offences "might not have happened".

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2017

Dave Levitan is a science journalist, and author of “Not A Scientist: How Politicians Mistake, Misrepresent, and Utterly Mangle Science.” Follow him on Twitter at @davelevitan.

From Washington Post • Mar. 24, 2017

The suit claims that the two characters are similar enough to constitute a violation of Bengal Mangle Productions' copyright. 

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2014

When we first came to El Mangle, I wouldn’t drink, and I didn’t take a bath because I thought the water came from the lagoon.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

Related Words

• bruise
• contort
• disfigure
• distort
• hack
• impair
• lacerate
• maim
• maul
• wreck