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mass-produce
,mashed po'tatoes n [P] potatoes which have been boiled then crushed to make them soft
mask1 /mɑːsk||mæsk/ n a covering for the face or for part of the face (e.g. for the eyes or the nose and mouth) which hides or protects it, especially so as to avoid being recognized, to protect the wearer from dangerous substances, or to protect others from infection: Many of the dancers at the fancy dress ball wore colourful masks. | Surgeons wear masks to prevent the spread of infection. | a fencing mask | (fig.) He hid his hatred under a mask of loyalty. → see also DEATH MASK, GAS MASK
mask2 v [T] to hide (as if) with a mask; keep from being seen or noticed: If you put in too much pepper you'll mask the delicate flavour of the sauce. | His smile masked his anger. → see also UNMASK
masked /mɑːskt||mæskt/ adj 1 wearing a mask: The robbery was carried out by a gang of masked men. 2 by or for people wearing masks: a masked ball 3 masked man a way of referring to the Lone Ranger → see LONE RANGER
Mas-kell, Dan /'mæskəl/ (1908–92) a British television sports COMMENTATOR known especially for describing tennis games at WIMBLEDON, and for saying 'Oh, I say!' when something exciting happened, and 'what a peach' when a player hit a very good shot
'masking tape n [U] sticky material in a long narrow band used when painting a surface to cover the edge of any area which one wishes to leave unpainted
mas·o·chism /'mæsəkɪzəm/ n [U] 1 the gaining of pleasure from suffering pain or unpleasantness 2 the wish to be hurt so as to gain sexual pleasure → compare SADISM
—chist n —chistic /ˌmæsə'kɪstɪk / adj: masochistic tendencies
ma·son /'meɪsən/ n 1 a STONEMASON 2 (usually cap.) a FREE-MASON
Mason, Jac·kie /'dʒæki/ (1934–) a US comedian known for telling jokes that might offend many people. Mason, whose real name is Jacob Maza, was a RABBI before becoming an entertainer in the 1960s.
Mason, Perry the main character in the books of Erle Stanley GARDNER and in the US television programme Perry Mason (1957–66) about a defence lawyer who always finds out who the criminals are in the legal cases he has to defend
Mason-Dix·on Line, the /ˌmeɪsən 'dɪksən laɪn/ the border between the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania in the US. It is known for dividing the states of the SOUTH where it was legal to own SLAVES from the states of the NORTH where it was illegal, until the end of the American CIVIL WAR. Some people still consider it to be a dividing line between the North and South of the US.
Ma·son·ic, masonic /mə'sɒnɪk||-'sɑː-/ adj involved or connected with Freemasons: a Masonic lodge
'Mason jar, mason jar n [C] AmE a glass pot with a tight lid used for preserving fruit and vegetables
ma·son·ry /'meɪsənri/ n [U] 1 stones from which a building, wall etc is made: She was hurt by a piece of falling masonry. 2 (often cap.) FREEMASONRY
Ma·so·ra, the also the Masorah /mə'sɔːrə/ a set of notes about the Hebrew BIBLE, written by Jewish SCHOLARS between the sixth and the tenth centuries AD
masque /mɑːsk||mæsk/ n a theatrical play often performed in the 16th and 17th centuries for kings, queens, or noblemen, written in poetry and including music, dancing, and songs
mas·que·rade1 /ˌmɑːskə'reɪd/ n 1 something, especially an action or way of behaving, that is intended to hide the truth; SHAM: The neighbours know you've lost your job, so why keep up this masquerade of going out to work every day? 2 a dance where people wear MASKS 3 AmE for FANCY DRESS: We're going to have a masquerade party on Hallowe'en.
masquerade2 v [(as)] to pretend (to be): The robbers got into the bank by masquerading as security men. —rader n
mass1 /mæs/ n 1 [C(of)] a large solid lump or pile, usually without a clear shape: A great mass of rock had fallen from the cliff and now blocked the road. 2 [C(of)] also masses pl. infml a large number; lots: Her garden is a mass of flowers. (=there are very many flowers in it) | There are masses of people in here. | The mass of (=most) voters are in favour of these proposals. 3 [U] tech (in science) the amount of matter in a body: A litre of gas has less mass than a litre of water. → see also MASSES
mass2 v [I] to gather together in large numbers: Crowds massed along the road where the queen would pass. | Dark clouds massed, and we expected rain.
mass3 adj [A no comp.] of or for a large number, especially of people: a mass walkout at the factory | mass unemployment
mass4 n a piece of music written specially for all the main parts of the Mass
Mass n [C;(the)U] the main service in some Christian churches, especially the Roman Catholic Church. In it people eat bread and drink wine to represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ, which they believe he gave in order to save them: to go to Mass | The priest celebrated (the) Mass. → compare COMMUNION; see also HIGH MASS
Mas·sa·chu·setts /ˌmæsə'tʃuːsɪts/ written abbrev. MA or Mass. a state in the northeast of the US which has Boston as its capital city, and was the place where the PILGRIM FATHERS first landed in America. It was one of the 13 original states of the US, and is known for its universities, especially HARVARD and MIT, and for its coast which is popular with tourists in the summer.
mas·sa·cre1 /'mæsəkə/ n 1 the cruel killing of large numbers of people, especially those who cannot defend themselves: the brutal massacre of thousands of innocent civilians 2 infml a severe defeat: It was a complete massacre; we lost 11–0!
massacre2 v [T] 1 to kill (a number of people) without pity: They set fire to the city and massacred all its inhabitants. → see KILL (USAGE) 2 infml to defeat severely
Massacre of the 'Innocents, the a story in the New Testament of the BIBLE in which King HEROD hears about the birth of the MESSIAH in Bethlehem. He orders all male babies in the town to be killed so that the Messiah will not live, but Jesus and his family escape before this happens. → see also FLIGHT INTO EGYPT
mas·sage1 /'mæsɑːʒ||mə'sɑːʒ/ n [C;U] (an act of) pressing and rubbing someone's body with one's hands, especially in order to take away pain or stiffness from the muscles and joints: to give/have a massage
massage2 v [T] 1 to give a massage to (someone or a part of the body) 2 to change (facts, figures etc), usually in a dishonest way so that they appear better than they really are: We suspected that the unemployment figures had been massaged.
'massage parlour /ˌmæs.ɑːʒ ˌpɑːlə/ n 1 a place where one can pay to have a massage 2 euph for BROTHEL
mass·es /'mæsɪz/ n [the P] sometimes derog the largest class of people in society, especially the WORKING CLASS: He spent his life trying to improve the living conditions of the masses.
mas·seur /mæ'sɜː/, mas·seuse /mæ'sɜːz||-suːz/ fem, — n someone who gives massages
Mas·sey Fer·gu·son /ˌmæsi 'fɜːgəsən||-'fɜːr-/ trademark a Canadian-owned company that makes and sells TRACTORS and farm machinery in many countries
mas·sif /'mæsɪf||mæ'siːf/ n tech a group of mountains forming one mass
mas·sive /'mæsɪv/ adj 1 of great size, especially strong, solid, and heavy: the castle's massive walls | the elephant's massive head 2 great or greater than usual in degree, amount, power, severity etc: He suffered a massive haemorrhage and died soon after. | massive efforts to improve productivity | massive doses of antibiotics to fight the infection
—ly adv —ness n [U]
'mass-market adj [A] designed for sale to as wide a range of people as possible: mass-market paperback/novel/film etc | a mass-market paperback priced at $8.99 —mass 'market n
mass 'media n [the+sing./pl. v] the MEDIA
mass 'murderer n someone who has murdered a lot of people
mass-pro'duce v [T] to produce (goods) in large numbers to the same pattern by machinery: Mass-produced furniture is cheaper than furniture made by hand.