mash

UK: /ˈmæʃ/ US: /mæʃ/ ,(mash)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mash¹ /mæʃ/   v. [~ + object]

1. to change (something) into a soft pulpy mass by beating:
   mashed the potatoes.
2. to crush:
   He mashed his fingers when the door closed on them.

n. [uncountable]

3. a soft pulpy mass.
4. Animal Husbandry a mixture of boiled grain, bran, etc., fed to livestock.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mash¹  (mash), v.t. 

1. to crush:
   He mashed his thumb with a hammer.
2. to reduce to a soft, pulpy mass, as by beating or pressure, esp. in the preparation of food.
3. to mix (crushed malt or meal of grain) with hot water to form wort.

n. 

4. a soft, pulpy mass.
5. a pulpy condition.
6. Animal Husbandry a mixture of boiled grain, bran, meal, etc., fed warm to horses and cattle.
7. crushed malt or meal of grain mixed with hot water to form wort.
8. British Terms mashed potatoes.

• bef. 1000; Middle English; Old English mǣsc-, masc- (in compounds); cognate with German Maische

mash²  (mash), [Older Slang.]
n. 

1. Slang Terms a flirtation or infatuation.
2. Slang Terms a flirt;
   sweetheart;
   lover.

v.t. 

3. Slang Terms to flirt with;
   court the affections of.

• 1880–85; origin, originally theatrical argot; of uncertain origin, originally

MASH  (mash), n. 

1. Military mobile army surgical hospital.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mash / mæʃ/ noun

1. a soft pulpy mass or consistency
2. 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. mashed potatoes
5. a brew of tea

verb (transitive)

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. to brew (tea)

Etymology: Old English mǣsc- (in compound words); related to Middle Low German mēsch

mashed adjective

ˈmasher noun