ENGLISH
REFERENCE

mascara

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate US //mæˈskɛɹə// UK //mæskˈɑːɹɐ// mas·cara

n. 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.


SIMPLE

She applies mascara every morning before work.

CONTEXTUAL

The waterproof mascara stayed on even after she spent the afternoon swimming at the beach.

COMPLEX

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.

Origin

From Italian maschera (“mask”).

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the substance in general; countable when referring to a specific brand or tube.

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