mascara
n. C / Un. a dark liquid or cream that you put on your eyelashes to make them look longer and thicker.
n. a cosmetic substance applied to the eyelashes to darken, thicken, or lengthen them.
She applies mascara every morning before work.
The waterproof mascara stayed on even after she spent the afternoon swimming at the beach.
While early formulations often relied on coal dust and petroleum jelly, modern mascara uses a sophisticated blend of waxes and pigments to achieve a smudge-resistant finish.
From Italian maschera (“mask”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the substance in general; countable when referring to a specific brand or tube.
Last updated May 6, 2026