mash 1 /mæʃ/ BrE AmE ( also mash up ) verb [transitive]
to crush something, especially a food that has been cooked, until it is soft and smooth:
Mash the bananas.
—masher noun [countable] :
a potato masher
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THESAURUS
▪ press to push something down or against a surface with your fingers or foot:
The doctor gently pressed her stomach.
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To move forward, press the accelerator.
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I pressed ‘delete’ and started again.
▪ squeeze to press something inwards from both sides:
It’s one of those balls that make a funny noise when you squeeze it.
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Squeeze the lemon and add the juice to the sauce.
▪ squash to press something against a surface accidentally and damage it by making it flat:
Don’t squash the tomatoes.
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He sat on my hat and squashed it.
▪ crush to press something very hard so that it breaks into very small pieces, or is very badly damaged:
Crush two cloves of garlic.
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The front of the car was completely crushed in the crash.
▪ mash to press cooked vegetables or fruit until they are soft and smooth:
Mash the potatoes while they are warm.
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Babies love mashed bananas.
▪ grind to press something solid until it becomes a powder, using a machine or tool:
the machine that grinds the corn
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freshly ground coffee