ENGLISH
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mash

v. · n.
US //ˈmæʃ// UK //mˈæʃ// mash
  1. 1 to crush into a soft mass (v.)
    A2 Elementary Cooking

    to crush food or other soft things until they become a smooth, thick liquid or paste.

    to reduce a substance to a soft, pulpy state through pressure or beating. Transitive — requires a direct object.

    Example

    You need to mash the boiled potatoes with some butter and milk.

    Example

    After boiling the root vegetables until tender, mash them thoroughly to ensure the puree has a consistent, velvety texture.

  2. 2 to press buttons repeatedly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Computing

    to press a button on a controller or keyboard very quickly and many times.

    to press a physical or virtual button rapidly and repeatedly, often without precision.

    Example

    I lost the game because I was just mashing the buttons instead of using a strategy.

    Example

    In high-intensity gaming scenarios, players often resort to mashing the action key rather than executing timed combos.

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  1. 3 mashed potatoes (n.)
    B1 Intermediate British English Cooking

    a dish made of potatoes that have been crushed until they are soft.

    a culinary preparation of potatoes that have been boiled and crushed. Often uncountable in British English.

    Example

    We had sausages and mash for dinner last night.

    Example

    The traditional pub menu featured locally sourced sausages served alongside a generous portion of creamy mustard mash.

    • purée
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