mesh

American  

[mesh] / mɛʃ /

noun

meshes plural

1. any knit, woven, or knotted fabric of open texture.

2. an interwoven or intertwined structure; network.

   Synonyms:

   grid, screen, grill, netting, web

3. any arrangement of interlocking metal links or wires with evenly spaced, uniform small openings between, as used in jewelry or sieves.

4. one of the open spaces between the cords or ropes of a net.

5. meshes,

   1. the threads that bind such spaces.

   2. the means of catching or holding fast.

      to be caught in the meshes of the law.

6. Machinery. the engagement of gear teeth.

7. Electricity. a set of branches that forms a closed path in a network so that removal of a branch results in an open path.

8. Metallurgy. a designation of a given fineness of powder used in powder metallurgy in terms of the number of the finest screen through which almost all the particles will pass.

   This powder is 200 mesh.

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verb (used with object)

meshes, present (3rd person singular) meshed, past participle, past meshing present participle

1. to catch or entangle in or as if in a net; enmesh.

2. to form with meshes, as a net.

3. Machinery. to engage, as gear teeth.

4. to cause to match, coordinate, or interlock.

   They tried to mesh their vacation plans.

verb (used without object)

meshes, present (3rd person singular) meshed, past participle, past meshing present participle

1. to become enmeshed.

2. Machinery. to become or be engaged, as the teeth of one gear with those of another.

3. to match, coordinate, or interlock.

   The two versions of the story don't mesh.

mesh British  

/ mɛʃ /

noun

1. a network; net

2. an open space between the strands of a network

3. (often plural) the strands surrounding these spaces

4. anything that ensnares, or holds like a net

   the mesh of the secret police

5. the engagement of teeth on interacting gearwheels

   the gears are in mesh

6. a measure of spacing of the strands of a mesh or grid, expressed as the distance between strands for coarse meshes or a number of strands per unit length for fine meshes

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verb

1. to entangle or become entangled

2. (of gear teeth) to engage or cause to engage

3. to coordinate (with)

   to mesh with a policy

4. to work or cause to work in harmony

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• mismesh
  verb
• meshy
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• meshes
  plural

Participles

• meshing
  present
• meshed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• mesh
  simple
• meshes
  simple
• have meshed
  perfect
• has meshed
  perfect
• am meshing
  progressive
• are meshing
  progressive
• is meshing
  progressive
• have been meshing
  perfect progressive
• has been meshing
  perfect progressive

Past

• meshed
  simple
• had meshed
  perfect
• was meshing
  progressive
• were meshing
  progressive
• had been meshing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will mesh
  simple
• will have meshed
  perfect
• will be meshing
  progressive
• will have been meshing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of mesh

1375–1425; late Middle English mesch, apparently continuing Old English masc, max; akin to Old High German māsca, Middle Dutch maesche

Explanation

Use the word mesh for fabric made of loosely woven fibers. A butterfly net is made of mesh, and so is a window screen. Some mesh is made from string or fabric, like a fishing net or a mesh sports jersey, while other mesh is metal or plastic, like a tea strainer. In either case, it's woven loosely enough that there are small holes throughout its surface. Another meaning of mesh is "harmonize" or "work well together." In the fourteenth century, it was spelled mesche, and it meant "open space in a net," from the Old English word for net, max.

Example Sentences

The report made recommendations to support victims, but most key proposals have been ignored, said Kath Sansom, a Sling The Mesh campaign founder from March, Cambridgeshire.

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2025

Mesh clothing demands the preparation of finding the right underwear or bra—a mandate surely appreciated by sheer-clothing retailers that also sell undergarments—which makes it into an event.

From Slate • Dec. 14, 2024

Sling the Mesh NI has 603 members – a majority said they were experiencing problems.

From BBC • Aug. 28, 2024

Mesh pockets on the outside provide even more room for miscellaneous items, and it comes in a variety of stylish colorways and patterns.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2023

Magic webs of gold and green Rainbow sheen Mesh the maze of flower and fern, Cuckoo-grass and meadow-sweet, And the wheat Where the crimson poppies burn.

From Collected Poems Volume One by Noyes, Alfred

Related Words

• coincide
• combine
• coordinate
• dovetail
• fit
• harmonize
• knit