I. ˈsplash, -aa(ə)sh, -aish verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: alteration of plash (IV)
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to strike and dash about a liquid or semiliquid substance : cause the spattering of a liquid or thinly viscous substance
the children splash
splashed about in the bath — Elizabeth Goudge
b. : to move through or into a liquid or semiliquid substance and cause splashing
splashed across the rich black loam of … fields sodden with irrigation water — Rex Keating
splashed overboard and swam ashore — Harriot B. Barbour
2.
a.
(1) : to become splashed or spattered about or upon : spray around or on in drops, columns, sheets, or masses of liquid or semiliquid matter
saw a drop of water splash down upon the violet script and spread — Willa Cather
the water splashing out of the tubs upon the stones — Pearl Buck
the road splashed muddily — Christopher Bloom
(2) : to become spread or scattered in the manner of a splashed liquid
the sunlight splashed over her deck and gear — Thomas Wood †1950
b. : to fall, strike, or move with a splashing sound
kept awake by the splashing of water from the faucet
a brook splashing over rocks
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to dash a liquid or thinly viscous substance upon or against : scatter liquid upon in large quantities
poured water into the basin and began to splash her face — Rumer Godden
— compare spatter
(2) : to soil or stain by a splashed liquid
don't splash your dress — Margaret Kennedy
b. : to cause to appear splashed or spattered : mark or overlay with patches of a different usually contrasting color or of a different texture
innumerable peaks, black and sharp, rose grandly into the dark blue sky … their sides streaked and splashed with snow — John Muir †1914
the white tulle is splashed with segments of Alençon-type lace — New Yorker
c. : to cover (a plumbing joint) with melted solder
d. : to outline hastily or carelessly : draw, paint, write, or relate sketchily : sketch
the verbal farce … splashed out for us — Listener
e. : to place in a prominent position
insurrectionary proclamations were splashed on the walls of the capital — Bernard Frizell
f. : to give very conspicuous display to
the papers splashed stories about the dapper little general — Newsweek
2.
a. : to strike and dash about (as water or mud) : cause (a liquid or thinly viscous substance) to spatter or toss about especially with force
she puffed and chugged, splashing the brown waters behind her — Tom Marvel
the pure bright colors which he confidently splashed onto his canvases without even bothering to mix on his palette — Time
b. : to scatter in the manner of a splashed liquid
the sunset colors were splashed brilliantly across the skies — P.E.James
3. : to move along (one's way) with splashing
a man, wearing a rubber raincoat which glistened in the headlights … splashed his way over toward the car — Erle Stanley Gardner
4. : to cause to splash a liquid or other substance
enjoy splashing waterproof boots into deep puddles — Arnold Bennett
5.
a. : to drive (logs) by releasing a head of water confined by a flood dam
b. : to flood (as a shallow river) with a flush of water (as for driving logs)
6. : to shoot down (as an enemy airplane)
II. noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
1.
a.
(1) : liquid hurled or being hurled scatteringly especially with considerable force or in quantities greater than a spattering, as a result of a surface blow, and against or upon something
the unskilled diver hit the surface with a great splash of water
a splash of paint on his palette had assumed … the shape of a distorted skull — Herbert Read
white splashes of water were plunging through the six-inch gap in the wooden gate — Bill Alcine
specifically : water impounded and then released suddenly (as for splashing logs)
(2) : a spot or daub from or as if from splashed liquid
a mud splash on the fender
b.
(1) Britain : a small shallow puddle or pond
an irregular splash of water to give away its foreignness — Elizabeth Bowen
(2) Britain : a small amount of soda water
Scotch and a splash — J.A.Phillips
c. : a large or irregular conspicuous colored patch upon a background or surface : blotch
the blossoming trees dot the countryside with splashes of pastel color — American Guide Series: Texas
2.
a.
(1) : the action of striking the surface of a liquid : the causing of a liquid to splash
whose placid surface is broken by the swirl and splash of pickerel and salmon — American Guide Series: Maine
(2) : the act or process of splashing logs
(3) : a plunge of short duration and especially accompanied by vigorous movements into water
will find a warm shower relaxing and a short cold splash immediately afterward stimulating — Morris Fishbein
b. : the action of a liquid striking or falling upon something
the steady splash of a light swell upon the shore
3.
a. : a sound produced by or as if by a body striking upon or in a liquid
tumbled with a sort of splash upon the keys of a ghostly piano — Scott Fitzgerald
b. : a sound produced by or as if by a liquid falling, moving forward, being hurled against something, or oscillating back and forth
heard the rain coming down in a splash — Edmund Wilson
specifically : a splashing sound heard in succussion
4.
a. : a vivid impression especially resulting from conspicuous or ostentatious activity or appearance
the son who has made the biggest splash in the world — Green Peyton
b.
(1) : the practice or an instance of ostentatious display
his love of luxury and of splash — M.D.Geismar
hard to believe that the magnificence could increase after the first brilliant splash — C.E.Abernethy
(2) : a conspicuous featuring of an item in a newspaper or magazine
the story got a robust front-page splash — Newsweek
splash headline