/ splæʃ; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] ( of liquid ) to fall noisily onto a surface :
Water splashed onto the floor.
Rain splashed against the windows.
2.
[ vn ] splash sth (on / onto / over sb/sth) | splash sb/sth (with sth) to make sb/sth wet by making water, mud, etc. fall on them / it :
He splashed cold water on his face.
He splashed his face with cold water.
My clothes were splashed with mud.
Stop splashing me!
3.
[ v ] to move through water making drops fly everywhere :
The kids were splashing through the puddles.
People were having fun in the pool, swimming or just splashing around.
4.
[ vn ] splash sth with sth [ usually passive ] to decorate sth with areas of bright colour, not in a regular pattern :
The walls were splashed with patches of blue and purple.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- splash sth across / over sth
- splash down
- splash out (on sth) | splash sth out (on / for sth)
■ noun
1.
[ C ] the sound of sth hitting liquid or of liquid hitting sth :
We heard the splash when she fell into the pool.
2.
[ C ] a small amount of liquid that falls onto sth; the mark that this makes :
splashes of water on the floor
dark splashes of mud on her skirt
3.
[ C ] a small area of bright colour or light that contrasts with the colours around it :
These flowers will give a splash of colour throughout the summer.
4.
[ sing. ] ( BrE , informal ) a small amount of liquid that you add to a drink :
coffee with just a splash of milk
—compare dash
5.
[ sing. ] an article in a newspaper, etc. that is intended to attract a lot of attention
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IDIOMS
- make, cause, etc. a splash
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WORD ORIGIN
early 18th cent. (as a verb): alteration of plash a splashing sound .