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Mask Very Common

Mask has 15 different meanings across 2 categories:

Noun · Verb

Definitions
Noun
1

a covering to disguise or conceal the face

"The clown slipped on his red mask before entering the party to hide his identity from the guests."

2

activity that tries to conceal something

"no mask could conceal his ignorance"

"they moved in under a mask of friendship"

3

a party of guests wearing costumes and masks

"The carnival parade was filled with a lively mask of guests dressed in colorful costumes."

4

a protective covering worn over the face

"The doctor asked everyone to wear a mask while waiting in the clinic."

5

A cover, or partial cover, for the face, used for disguise or protection.

"I accidentally mashed my keys while typing, so I had to mask that mistake in my notes before submitting them."

6

mesh

7

Mash.

In plain English: A mask is an object you wear over your face to hide it or protect yourself from something.

"The clown put on a colorful mask for the party."

Usage: As a noun, a mask is an object worn to conceal the face or protect the wearer from hazards, distinct from mash which is a soft mixture of ingredients. Use "mask" when referring to physical coverings like surgical face coverings or disguises, and never interchange it with "mash."

Verb
1

hide under a false appearance

"He masked his disappointment"

2

put a mask on or cover with a mask

"Mask the children for Halloween"

3

make unrecognizable

"The herb masks the garlic taste"

"We disguised our faces before robbing the bank"

4

cover with a sauce

"mask the meat"

5

shield from light

"She pulled down her eyelids to mask the harsh glare of the midday sun while reading inside the tent."

6

To cover (the face or something else), in order to conceal the identity or protect against injury; to cover with a mask or visor.

"His sudden change of plans completely masked my confusion about where we were supposed to go next."

7

To mash.

8

To bewilder; confuse.

In plain English: To mask something means to hide it so that other people cannot see or notice it.

"She decided to mask her voice so no one could recognize her."

Usage: Use "mask" as a verb when you want to describe covering up or hiding something, such as emotions or a problem, rather than confusing someone. Avoid using it to mean bewildering, which is the correct meaning of words like "mystify" or "perplex."

Example Sentences
"The clown put on a colorful mask for the party." noun
"She decided to mask her voice so no one could recognize her." verb
"He decided to mask his voice so no one could recognize him." verb
"The magician quickly masked the audience's view of the secret compartment." verb
"She tried to mask her disappointment with a forced smile." verb
Related Terms
Antonyms
unmask
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
covering disguise concealment party protective covering cover hide
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
domino false face masked ball face mask gasmask welder's mask dissemble dissimulate masquerade camouflage

Origin

The word "mask" entered English from the Middle French masque and Italian maschera, both referring to a covering for the face. It eventually replaced older terms like the native Old English grīma and the borrowed Middle English viser.

Rhyming Words
ask bask cask task hask lask rask abask trask reask flask unask damask outask attask retask misask unmask immask demask
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