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mascara

American

[ma-skar-uh, ma-skahr-uh] / mæˈskær ə, mæˈskɑr ə /

noun

a substance used as a cosmetic to color the eyelashes and eyebrows.

verb (used with object)

to apply mascara to.

mascara British

/ mæˈskɑːrə /

noun

a cosmetic substance for darkening, colouring, and thickening the eyelashes, applied with a brush or rod

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of mascara

1885–90; < Spanish: mask; mask

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Is my mascara running?” she asks Ray after emerging victorious.

From Salon • Oct. 21, 2025

Where once they were garish young rockers buried under mascara, now they are garish older rockers, desperately hanging onto their youth.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 20, 2025

They’ve even found their way into makeup; Hailey Bieber’s brand Rhode released a popular peptide-packed lip tint last year, and you can find them in mascara, eye shadow, blush … the list goes on.

From Slate • May 4, 2025

The piece - called "Valentine's day mascara" - can now be viewed at Hornby Hobbies' The WonderWorks for free after a stint at galleries in London.

From BBC • Dec. 14, 2024

She doesn’t anymore—now she wears mascara, lip gloss, and sundresses—but back then, she liked to pretend that we were adventurers.

From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023