mash

¹ American  

[mash] / mæʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to crush.

   He mashed his thumb with a hammer.

2. to reduce to a soft, pulpy mass, as by beating or pressure, especially in the preparation of food.

3. to mix (crushed malt or meal of grain) with hot water to form wort.

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noun

1. a soft, pulpy mass.

2. a pulpy condition.

3. a mixture of boiled grain, bran, meal, etc., fed warm to horses and cattle.

4. crushed malt or meal of grain mixed with hot water to form wort.

5. British Slang. mashed potatoes.

mash ² American  

[mash] / mæʃ /

noun

1. a flirtation or infatuation.

2. a person who seeks another's affection or who is the object of affection.

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verb (used with object)

1. to flirt with; court the affections of.

MASH ³ American  

[mash] / mæʃ /

noun

1. mobile army surgical hospital.

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mash ¹ British  

/ mæʃ /

noun

1. a soft pulpy mass or consistency

2. agriculture a feed of bran, meal, or malt mixed with water and fed to horses, cattle, or poultry

3. (esp in brewing) a mixture of mashed malt grains and hot water, from which malt is extracted

4. informal mashed potatoes

5. dialect a brew of tea

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verb

1. to beat or crush into a mash

2. to steep (malt grains) in hot water in order to extract malt, esp for making malt liquors

3. dialect to brew (tea)

4. archaic to flirt with

MASH ² British  

/ mæʃ /

acronym

1. Mobile Army Surgical Hospital

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Other Word Forms

• mashed adjective
• masher noun

Etymology

Origin of mash¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English mash- and Old English mǣsc-, noun used in compounds, as in Middle English mashfat and Old English mǣscfat “mash-vat,” and mǣscwyrt “mash wort”; cognate with German Maische

Origin of mash²

First recorded in 1870–75; originally theatrical argot; further origin uncertain; flirt ( def. ), sweetheart, lover

Example Sentences

Soups, stews, cheesy casseroles and creamy mashed potatoes are just a few popular options that come to mind.

From Salon

The traditional split-pea soup and vegetable mash have been staples of the Dutch diet for decades, served at winter markets or enjoyed by families after a long day of skating.

From Barron's

Folded into shepherd’s pie under a blanket of mashed potatoes.

From Salon

He stabbed his fork into his mashed potatoes and savored the sound of the metal tines hitting the plate.

From Literature

Pea plants were mashed, avocados were mushed, and tomatoes were soup.

From Literature

Related Words

• chew
• crush
• grind
• scrunch
• squeeze
• squish