# mask

/ˈmæsk/ (US) · /mˈɑːsk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mask
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. face covering

noun · CEFR A2

something you wear over your face to hide who you are or to keep you safe from germs or smoke.

For teachers: a covering for all or part of the face, worn for protection, disguise, or ritual purposes.

- The doctor wore a surgical mask to protect the patient during the operation.
- The museum displayed a collection of ancient ritual masks carved from cedar and decorated with intricate shell inlays.

Usage: Usually a countable noun.

### 3. to hide or cover

verb · CEFR B2

to hide a feeling, a smell, or a fact so that other people do not notice it.

For teachers: to conceal or disguise a sensation, emotion, or physical object by covering it with something else.

- She tried to mask her disappointment with a forced smile.
- The strong scent of garlic in the sauce was intended to mask the slightly bitter taste of the herbs.

Usage: Transitive; always takes a direct object.

### 4. social adaptation

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to hide your natural personality or traits to fit in with other people, often used by neurodivergent people.

For teachers: to consciously or unconsciously suppress natural behaviors or traits to appear neurotypical in social situations.

- Many autistic people find it exhausting to mask their true selves all day at work.
- The study explored how social masking contributes to burnout among neurodivergent adults in high-pressure environments.

Teaching tip: This is a modern psychological sense that has become very common in discussions about neurodiversity.

### 5. to brew tea

verb · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect

to make tea by letting it sit in hot water.

For teachers: to infuse or steep tea leaves in a teapot.

- Wait a few minutes for the tea to mask before you pour it.
- In some northern regions, you might hear someone ask if the tea has finished masking yet.

Teaching tip: This is highly regional to Northern England and Scotland; most learners should use 'brew' or 'steep' instead.

## Examples

- She wore a colorful mask to the party.
- The surgeon adjusted her protective mask before entering the operating room to maintain a sterile environment.
- The ancient ritual involved a wooden mask carved with intricate patterns, designed to represent the spirit of the forest during the harvest festival.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.