2 VERB If something mutates into something different, it changes into that thing. □ [V + into ] Overnight, the gossip begins to mutate into headlines.
mute /mjuː t/ (mutes , muting , muted )
1 ADJ Someone who is mute is silent for a particular reason and does not speak. □ He was mute, distant, and indifferent. ● ADV [ADV after v] Mute is also an adverb. □ He could watch her standing mute by the phone. ● mute|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ I crouched by him and grasped his hand, mutely offering what comfort I could.
2 ADJ Someone who is mute is unable to speak. [OLD-FASHIONED , OFFENSIVE ] □ Marianna, the duke's daughter, became mute after a shock.
3 VERB If someone mutes something such as their feelings or their activities, they reduce the strength or intensity of them. □ [V n] The corruption does not seem to have muted the country's prolonged economic boom. ● mut|ed ADJ □ The threat contrasted starkly with his administration's previous muted criticism.
4 VERB If you mute a noise or sound, you lower its volume or make it less distinct. □ [V n] They begin to mute their voices, not be as assertive. ● mut|ed ADJ □ 'Yes,' he muttered, his voice so muted I hardly heard his reply.
mut|ed /mjuː t I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Muted colours are soft and gentle, not bright and strong. □ He likes sombre, muted colours–she likes bright colours.
mu|ti|late /mjuː t I le I t/ (mutilates , mutilating , mutilated )
1 VERB If a person or animal is mutilated , their body is severely damaged, usually by someone who physically attacks them. □ [be V -ed] More than 30 horses have been mutilated in the last nine months. □ [V n] He tortured and mutilated six young men. □ [V -ed] The mutilated bodies of seven men have been found beside a railway line. ● mu|ti|la|tion /mjuː t I le I ʃ ə n/ (mutilations ) N‑VAR □ Amnesty International chronicles cases of torture and mutilation.
2 VERB If something is mutilated , it is deliberately damaged or spoiled. □ [be V -ed] Brecht's verdict was that his screenplay had been mutilated. [Also V n]
mu|ti|neer /mjuː t I n I ə r / (mutineers ) N‑COUNT A mutineer is a person who takes part in a mutiny.
mu|ti|nous /mjuː t I nəs/ ADJ If someone is mutinous , they are strongly dissatisfied with a person in authority and are likely to stop obeying them. □ His own army, stung by defeats, is mutinous.
mu|ti|ny /mjuː t I ni/ (mutinies , mutinying , mutinied )
1 N‑VAR A mutiny is a refusal by people, usually soldiers or sailors, to continue obeying a person in authority. □ A series of coup attempts and mutinies within the armed forces destabilized the regime.
2 VERB If a group of people, usually soldiers or sailors, mutiny , they refuse to continue obeying a person in authority. □ [V ] Units stationed around the capital mutinied because they had received no pay for nine months. □ [V + against ] Sailors at a naval base had mutinied against their officers.
mutt /mʌ t/ (mutts ) N‑COUNT A mutt is the same as a mongrel . [INFORMAL ]
mut|ter /mʌ tə r / (mutters , muttering , muttered ) VERB If you mutter , you speak very quietly so that you cannot easily be heard, often because you are complaining about something. □ [V with quote] 'God knows what's happening in that madman's mind,' she muttered. □ [V + about ] She can hear the old woman muttering about consideration. □ [V + to ] He sat there shaking his head, muttering to himself. □ [V ] She was staring into the fire muttering. ● N‑COUNT Mutter is also a noun. □ [+ of ] They make no more than a mutter of protest. ● mut|ter|ing (mutterings ) N‑VAR □ He heard muttering from the front of the crowd.
mut|ton /mʌ t ə n/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Mutton is meat from an adult sheep that is eaten as food. □ …a leg of mutton. □ …mutton stew.
2 PHRASE If you describe a woman as mutton dressed as lamb , you are criticizing her for trying to look younger than she really is, in a way that you consider unattractive. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
mu|tu|al ◆◇◇ /mjuː tʃuəl/
1 ADJ You use mutual to describe a situation, feeling, or action that is experienced, felt, or done by both of two people mentioned. □ The East and the West can work together for their mutual benefit and progress. □ It's plain that he adores his daughter, and the feeling is mutual. ● mu|tu|al|ly ADV [ADV adj/adv, ADV before v] □ Attempts to reach a mutually agreed solution had been fruitless.
2 mutually exclusive → see exclusive
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use mutual to describe something such as an interest which two or more people share. □ They do, however, share a mutual interest in design. □ We were introduced by a mutual friend.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] If a building society or an insurance company has mutual status, it is not owned by shareholders but by its customers, who receive a share of the profits. [BRIT , BUSINESS ] □ Britain's third-largest building society abandoned its mutual status and became a bank. SYNONYMS mutual ADJ 1