English Reference
verb · noun

mash

v. · n.
US /ˈmæʃ/ UK /mˈæʃ/ mash UK spelling mashes

  1. 01 A2 Elementary Cooking

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

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

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Computing

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

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

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate British English Cooking

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

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

    Simple

    We had sausages and mash for dinner last night.

    In context

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

    purée
This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated