meri|to|ri|ous /me r I tɔː riəs/ ADJ If you describe something as meritorious , you approve of it for its good or worthwhile qualities. [FORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ I had been promoted for what was called gallant and meritorious service.
mer|maid /mɜː r me I d/ (mermaids ) N‑COUNT In fairy stories and legends, a mermaid is a woman with a fish's tail instead of legs, who lives in the sea.
mer|ri|ly /me r I li/
1 ADV [ADV with v] If you say that someone merrily does something, you are critical of the fact that they do it without realizing that there are a lot of problems which they have not thought about. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He merrily rewrote history according to his own prejudices.
2 ADV [ADV with v] If you say that something is happening merrily , you mean that it is happening fairly quickly, and in a pleasant or satisfactory way. □ The ferry cut merrily through the water.
3 → see also merry
mer|ri|ment /me r I mənt/ N‑UNCOUNT Merriment means laughter. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
mer|ry /me ri/ (merrier , merriest )
1 ADJ If you describe someone's character or behaviour as merry , you mean that they are happy and cheerful. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ From the house come the bursts of merry laughter. ● mer|ri|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ Chris threw back his head and laughed merrily.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you get merry , you get slightly drunk. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ They went off to Glengarriff to get merry.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Some people use merry to emphasize something that they are saying, often when they want to express disapproval or humour. [EMPHASIS ] □ It hasn't stopped the British Navy proceeding on its merry way.
4 → see also merrily
5 CONVENTION Just before Christmas and on Christmas Day, people say ' Merry Christmas ' to other people to express the hope that they will have a happy time. [FORMULAE ] □ Merry Christmas, everyone. □ I just wanted to wish you a merry Christmas.
6 to play merry hell → see hell
me rry-go-round (merry-go-rounds )
1 N‑COUNT A merry-go-round is a large circular platform at a fairground on which there are model animals or vehicles for people to sit on or in as it turns round.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] You can refer to a continuous series of activities as a merry-go-round . □ [+ of ] …a merry-go-round of teas, fetes, musical events and the like.
me rry-making N‑UNCOUNT Merry-making is the activities of people who are enjoying themselves together in a lively way, for example by eating, drinking, or dancing. □ …a time of merry-making, feasting and visiting friends.
me|sa /me I sə/ (mesas ) N‑COUNT A mesa is a large hill with a flat top and steep sides; used mainly of hills in the south-western United States. [AM ]
mesh /me ʃ/ (meshes , meshing , meshed )
1 N‑VAR Mesh is material like a net made from wire, thread, or plastic. □ The ground-floor windows are obscured by wire mesh.
2 VERB If two things or ideas mesh or are meshed , they go together well or fit together closely. □ [V ] Their senses of humor meshed perfectly. □ [V + with ] This of course meshes with the economic philosophy of those on the right. □ [V n-pl] Meshing the research and marketing operations will be Mr. Furlaud's job. [Also V n + with ]
mes|mer|ize /me zməra I z/ (mesmerizes , mesmerizing , mesmerized ) in BRIT, also use mesmerise VERB If you are mesmerized by something, you are so interested in it or so attracted to it that you cannot think about anything else. □ [be V -ed] He was absolutely mesmerised by Pavarotti on television. □ [V n] There was something about Pearl that mesmerised her. ● mes|mer|ized ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] □ I sat mesmerized long after the fairground closed. ● mes|mer|iz|ing ADJ [ADJ n] □ She has a mesmerising smile.
mess ◆◇◇ /me s/ (messes , messing , messed )
1 N‑SING If you say that something is a mess or in a mess , you think that it is in an untidy state. □ The house is a mess. □ Linda can't stand mess.
2 N‑VAR If you say that a situation is a mess , you mean that it is full of trouble or problems. You can also say that something is in a mess . □ I've made such a mess of my life. □ …the many reasons why the economy is in such a mess.
3 N‑VAR A mess is something liquid or sticky that has been accidentally dropped on something. □ I'll clear up the mess later.
4 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The mess at a military base or military barracks is the building in which members of the armed forces can eat or relax. □ …a party at the officers' mess.
▸ mess around in BRIT, also use mess about 1 PHRASAL VERB If you mess around or mess about , you spend time doing things without any particular purpose or without achieving anything. □ [V P ] We were just messing around, playing with paint. □ [V P + with ] Boys and girls will enjoy messing about with any kind of machine.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone is messing around with or messing about with something, you mean that they are interfering with it in a harmful way. □ [V P + with ] I'd like to know who's been messing about with the pram.
3 PHRASAL VERB If someone is messing around or messing about , they are behaving in a joking or silly way. □ [V P ] I thought she was messing about.