mangle

¹

[mang-guhl]

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

mangle

²

[mang-guhl]

noun

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

verb (used with object)

mangled, mangling 

1. to smooth or press with a mangle.

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

mangle

¹

/ ˈmæŋɡəl /

verb

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

2. to ruin, spoil, or mar

mangle

²

/ 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

verb

1. to press or dry in a mangle

Other Word Forms

• mangler noun
• mangled adjective

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mangle¹

C14: from Norman French mangler, probably from Old French mahaignier to maim

Origin of mangle²

C18: from Dutch mangel, ultimately from Late Latin manganum. See _mangonel

Synonym Study

See maim.

Example Sentences

Photographs show a scorched and mangled drone, and satellite images reveal the extent of the damage to the terrain.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She’s staring into the mangled trees in front of us.

Read more on Literature

In others, the water had already retreated, leaving behind a thick jumble of mangled cars, destroyed boats, and crumbled buildings.

Read more on Literature

He did not go near the site but could see mangled car parts on fire and locals trying to help the injured.

Read more on BBC

He points to a mangled heap of concrete and steel in Sheikh Radwan, which was once one of Gaza City's most densely populated neighbourhoods.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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