3 ADJ In some languages, a masculine noun, pronoun, or adjective has a different form from a feminine or neuter one, or behaves in a different way.
mas|cu|lin|ity /mæ skjʊl I n I ti/
1 N‑UNCOUNT A man's masculinity is the fact that he is a man. □ …a project on the link between masculinity and violence.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Masculinity means the qualities, especially sexual qualities, which are considered to be typical of men. □ The old ideas of masculinity do not work for most men.
mas|cu|lin|ize /mæ skjʊl I na I z/ (masculinizes , masculinizing , masculinized ) in BRIT, also use masculinise VERB [usu passive] To masculinize something means to make it into something that involves mainly men or is thought suitable for or typical of men. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] Not all plantation work has been masculinized.
mash /mæ ʃ/ (mashes , mashing , mashed )
1 VERB If you mash food that is solid but soft, you crush it so that it forms a soft mass. □ [V n] Mash the bananas with a fork. □ [V -ed] …mashed potatoes.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Mash is mashed potato. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
mask ◆◇◇ /mɑː sk, mæ sk/ (masks , masking , masked )
1 N‑COUNT A mask is a piece of cloth or other material, which you wear over your face so that people cannot see who you are, or so that you look like someone or something else. □ The gunman, whose mask had slipped, fled. □ …actors wearing masks.
2 N‑COUNT A mask is a piece of cloth or other material that you wear over all or part of your face to protect you from germs or harmful substances. □ You must wear goggles and a mask that will protect you against the fumes.
3 N‑COUNT If you describe someone's behaviour as a mask , you mean that they do not show their real feelings or character. □ [+ of ] His mask of detachment cracked, and she saw for an instant an angry and violent man.
4 N‑COUNT A mask is a thick cream or paste made of various substances, which you spread over your face and leave for some time in order to improve your skin. □ This mask leaves your complexion feeling soft and supple.
5 VERB If you mask your feelings, you deliberately do not show them in your behaviour, so that people cannot know what you really feel. □ [V n] Mr Straw has, in public at least, masked his disappointment.
6 VERB If one thing masks another, it prevents people from noticing or recognizing the other thing. □ [V n] Too much salt masks the true flavour of the food.
7 → see also death mask , gas mask , oxygen mask COLLOCATIONS mask NOUN 2
noun + mask : eye, face, ski
adjective + mask : protective, respiratory, surgical
verb + mask : remove, wear VERB 5
mask + noun : feeling
noun + mask : smile
masked /mɑː skt, mæ skt/ ADJ If someone is masked , they are wearing a mask. □ Masked youths threw stones and fire-bombs.
ma sk|ing tape N‑UNCOUNT Masking tape is plastic or paper tape which is sticky on one side and is used, for example, to protect part of a surface that you are painting.
maso|chism /mæ sək I zəm/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Masochism is behaviour in which someone gets sexual pleasure from their own pain or suffering. □ The tendency towards masochism is however always linked with elements of sadism. ● maso|chist (masochists ) N‑COUNT □ …consensual sexual masochists.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you describe someone's behaviour as masochism , you mean that they seem to be trying to get into a situation which causes them suffering or great difficulty. □ Once you have tasted life in southern California, it takes a peculiar kind of masochism to return to a British winter. ● maso|chist N‑COUNT □ Anybody who enjoys this is a masochist.
3 → see also sado-masochism
maso|chis|tic /mæ sək I st I k/
1 ADJ Masochistic behaviour involves a person getting sexual pleasure from their own pain or suffering. □ …his masochistic tendencies.
2 ADJ If you describe someone's behaviour as masochistic , you mean that they seem to be trying to get into a situation which causes them suffering or great difficulty. □ It seems masochistic, somehow.
3 → see also sado-masochistic
ma|son /me I s ə n/ (masons )
1 N‑COUNT A mason is a person who is skilled at making things or building things with stone. In American English, masons are people who work with stone or bricks.
2 N‑COUNT A Mason is the same as a Freemason .
Ma|son|ic /məsɒ n I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Masonic is used to describe things relating to the organization of Freemasons. □ …a Masonic lodge on Broughton Street.
ma|son|ry /me I sənri/ N‑UNCOUNT Masonry is bricks or pieces of stone which have been stuck together with cement as part of a wall or building.
mas|quer|ade /mæ skəre I d/ (masquerades , masquerading , masqueraded )
1 VERB To masquerade as someone or something means to pretend to be that person or thing, particularly in order to deceive other people. □ [V + as ] He masqueraded as a doctor and fooled everyone.
2 N‑COUNT A masquerade is an attempt to deceive people about the true nature or identity of something. □ He told a news conference that the elections would be a masquerade.