mash

The word “mash” means a soft, pulpy mixture made by crushing or beating something, especially mashed potatoes. In plain terms, to crush food (or press buttons) into a soft or rapid mess.

“Mash” is pronounced mash (/mæʃ/ in IPA).

Here is “mash” used in a sentence: “He served sausages with a generous helping of mash.”

Depending on how it is used, “mash” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “mash” comes from Old English. From Old English mǣsc, related to German Maische and the English word "mix.".

“Mash” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Mash” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, pulpy mixture made by crushing or beating something, especially mashed potatoes.

Mash is a general noun for a soft, pulpy mixture made by crushing or beating something, and in British English it is also used as shorthand specifically for mashed potatoes. So while all mashed potatoes can be called mash, mash itself can also refer to other crushed, pulpy mixtures.

To mash a button means to press it rapidly and repeatedly, a usage common in video game instructions and descriptions. This sense is distinct from the cooking-related meaning of crushing food into a pulp.

Mash specifically implies working something into a soft, pulpy mass, often through repeated pressing or beating, while crush more generally means to apply force to break or flatten something, which may not result in a pulpy texture. Mash is commonly applied to food, while crush has broader physical applications.