mix up

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

mix-up /ˈmɪksˌʌp/   n. [countable]

1. a state of confusion or disorder;
   a mistake:
   There must be a mix-up; we were told we didn't need reservations.

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

mix /mɪks/   v. 

1. to (cause to) become combined into one mass: [no object]
   a paint that mixes with water.
   [~ + object]
   You can mix this paint with water.
2. to put together in a confused way:
   [~ + object] He mixed everything in a heap and tossed it into the washing machine.
3. to combine or unite:
   [~ + object] to mix business and pleasure.
4. to form or make by combining ingredients:
   [~ + object] to mix mortar; mixed some concrete and poured it into the frame.
5. to enjoy the company of people:
   [no object] He stood alone and refused to mix with the other guests.
6. mix up:
   • to confuse completely: [be + ~-ed + up]
     He's all mixed up and doesn't know which way to go.
     [~ + object + up]
     He mixed me up by calling the meeting for today.
     [~ + up + object]
     He mixed up a lot of people by changing the date.
   • to mistake (one thing) for another: [~ + object + up]
     He's always mixing the two of us up.
     [~ + up + object]
     He always mixes up the two of us.
   • to rearrange the order of: [~ + up + object]
     She mixed up the cards and dealt them.
     [~ + object + up]
     She mixed them up and dealt them out.

n. [countable]

7. an act or instance of mixing;
   mixture:
   a mix of concrete.
8. Food a commercial preparation to which usually only a liquid must be added before cooking or baking:
   a cake mix.

Idioms

9. Idioms mix it up, [no object] [Slang.]
   • to engage in a quarrel.
   • to fight with the fists:
     eager to mix it up with the gang down the road.

mix•a•ble, adj. 
mix•er, n. [countable] See -misc-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mix-up  (miks′up′), n. 

1. a confused state of things;
   muddle;
   tangle.
2. a fight.

• noun, nominal use of verb, verbal phrase mix up 1835–45

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mix  (miks), v., mixed or mixt, mix•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to combine (substances, elements, things, etc.) into one mass, collection, or assemblage, generally with a thorough blending of the constituents.
2. to put together indiscriminately or confusedly (often fol. by up).
3. to combine, unite, or join:
   to mix business and pleasure.
4. to add as an element or ingredient:
   Mix some salt into the flour.
5. to form or make by combining ingredients:
   to mix a cake; to mix mortar.
6. Genetics to crossbreed.
7. Cinema, Show Business [Motion Pictures.]
   • to combine, blend, edit, etc. (the various components of a soundtrack):
     to mix dialogue and sound effects.
   • to complete the mixing process on (a film, soundtrack, etc.):
     an important movie that took months to mix.
8. Sound Reproduction, Music and Dance to combine (two or more separate recordings or microphone signals) to make a single recording or composite signal.

v.i. 
9. to become mixed:
   a paint that mixes easily with water.
10. to associate or mingle, as in company:
    to mix with the other guests at a party.
11. Genetics to be crossbred, or of mixed breeding.
12. Sport [Boxing.] to exchange blows vigorously and aggressively:
    The crowd jeered as the fighters clinched, refusing to mix.
13. Sound Reproduction, Music and Dance mix down, to mix the tracks of an existing recording to make a new recording with fewer tracks:
    the four-track tape was mixed down to stereo.
14. Slang Terms mix it up:
    • to engage in a quarrel.
    • to fight with the fists. Also, mix it. 
15. mix up:
    • to confuse completely, esp. to mistake one person or thing for another:
      The teacher was always mixing up the twins.
    • to involve or entangle.

n. 
16. an act or instance of mixing.
17. the result of mixing;
    mixture:
    cement mix; an odd mix of gaiety and sadness.
18. Food a commercially prepared blend of ingredients to which usually only a liquid must be added to make up the total of ingredients necessary or obtain the desired consistency:
    a cake mix; muffin mix.
19. Wine mixer (def. 4).
20. the proportion of ingredients in a mixture;
    formula:
    a mix of two to one.
21. Informal Terms a mess or muddle;
    mix-up.
22. Music, Music and Dance, Sound Reproduction an electronic blending of tracks or sounds made to produce a recording.
• back formation from mixt mixed 1470–80
mix′a•ble, adj. 
mix′a•bil′i•ty, mix′a•ble•ness, n. 
Synonyms
• 1, 9. commingle, jumble, unite, amalgamate, fuse.
  Mix, blend, combine, mingle concern the bringing of two or more things into more or less intimate association.
  Mix is the general word for such association:
  to mix fruit juices.
  Blend implies such a harmonious joining of two or more types of colors, feelings, etc., that the new product formed displays some of the qualities of each:
  to blend fragrances or whiskeys.
  Combine implies such a close or intimate union that distinction between the parts is lost:
  to combine forces.
  Mingle usually suggests retained identity of the parts:
  to mingle voices.
• 9. coalesce.
• 17. concoction; formula.

Mix  (miks), n. 

1. Biographical Thomas Edwin (Tom), 1880–1940, U.S. film actor in westerns.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mix-up noun

1. a confused condition or situation
2. a fight

verb mix up (tr, adverb)

1. to make into a mixture
2. to confuse or confound: Tom mixes Rajiv up with Rajesh
3. (often passive) to put (someone) into a state of confusion: I'm all mixed up
4. followed by in or with; usually passive: to involve (in an activity or group, esp one that is illegal): why did you get mixed up in that racket?