MASK

mask

(noun) activity that tries to conceal something; “no mask could conceal his ignorance”; “they moved in under a mask of friendship”

mask

(noun) a covering to disguise or conceal the face

mask

(noun) a protective covering worn over the face

masquerade, masquerade party, masque, mask

(noun) a party of guests wearing costumes and masks

mask

(verb) put a mask on or cover with a mask; “Mask the children for Halloween”

mask, block out

(verb) shield from light

mask

(verb) cover with a sauce; “mask the meat”

dissemble, cloak, mask

(verb) hide under a false appearance; “He masked his disappointment”

disguise, mask

(verb) make unrecognizable; “The herb masks the garlic taste”; “We disguised our faces before robbing the bank”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Noun

mask (plural masks)

A cover, or partial cover, for the face, used for disguise or protection.

That which disguises; a pretext or subterfuge.

A festive entertainment of dancing or other diversions, where all wear masks; a masquerade

A person wearing a mask.

(obsolete) A dramatic performance, formerly in vogue, in which the actors wore masks and represented mythical or allegorical characters.

(architecture) A grotesque head or face, used to adorn keystones and other prominent parts, to spout water in fountains, and the like

Synonym: mascaron

(fortification) In a permanent fortification, a redoubt which protects the caponiere.

(fortification) A screen for a battery

(zoology) The lower lip of the larva of a dragonfly, modified so as to form a prehensile organ.

(Puebloan, anthropology) A ceremonial object used in Puebloan kachina cults that resembles a Euro-American mask. (The term is objected to as an appropriate translation by Puebloan peoples as it emphasizes imitation but ignores power and representational intent.)

(computing, programming) A pattern of bits used in bitwise operations; bitmask.

(computer graphics) A two-color (black and white) bitmap generated from an image, used to create transparency in the image.

(heraldiccharge) The head of a fox, shown face-on and cut off immediately behind the ears.

Synonyms

• vizard (archaic)

Hyponyms

• (a cover for the face): domino mask, sleep mask

Verb

mask (third-person singular simple present masks, present participle masking, simple past and past participle masked)

(transitive) To cover (the face or something else), in order to conceal the identity or protect against injury; to cover with a mask or visor.

(transitive) To disguise; to cover; to hide.

(transitive, military) To conceal; also, to intervene in the line of.

(transitive, military) To cover or keep in check.

(intransitive) To take part as a masker in a masquerade

(intransitive) To wear a mask; to be disguised in any way

(transitive) to cover or shield a part of a design or picture in order to prevent reproduction or to safeguard the surface from the colors used when working with an air brush or painting

(transitive, computing) To set or unset (certain bits, or binary digits, within a value) by means of a bitmask.

(transitive, computing) To disable (an interrupt, etc.) by setting or unsetting the associated bit.

Etymology 2

Noun

mask (plural masks)

A mesh.

(UK dialectal, Scotland) The mesh of a net; a net; net-bag.

Etymology 3

Noun

mask (plural masks)

(UK dialectal) Mash.

Verb

mask (third-person singular simple present masks, present participle masking, simple past and past participle masked)

(transitive, UK dialectal) To mash.

(transitive, UK dialectal) (brewing) To mix malt with hot water to yield wort.

(transitive, Scotland dialectal) To be infused or steeped.

(UK dialectal, Scotland) To prepare tea in a teapot; alternative to brew.

Etymology 4

Verb

mask (third-person singular simple present masks, present participle masking, simple past and past participle masked)

(transitive, UK dialectal) To bewilder; confuse.

Anagrams

• KAMs, maks

Source: Wiktionary

Mask, n. Etym: [F. masque, LL. masca, mascha, mascus; cf. Sp. & Pg. máscara, It. maschera; all fr. Ar. maskharat buffoon, fool, pleasantry, anything ridiculous or mirthful, fr. sakhira to ridicule, to laugh at. Cf. Masque, Masquerade.]

1. A cover, or partial cover, for the face, used for disguise or protection; as, a dancer's mask; a fencer's mask; a ball player's mask.

2. That which disguises; a pretext or subterfuge.

3. A festive entertainment of dancing or other diversions, where all wear masks; a masquerade; hence, a revel; a frolic; a delusive show. Bacon. This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask. Milton.

4. A dramatic performance, formerly in vogue, in which the actors wore masks and represented mythical or allegorical characters.

5. (Arch.)

Definition: A grotesque head or face, used to adorn keystones and other prominent parts, to spout water in fountains, and the like; -- called also mascaron.

6. (Fort.) (a) In a permanent fortification, a redoubt which protects the caponiere. (b) A screen for a battery.

7. (Zoöl.)

Definition: The lower lip of the larva of a dragon fly, modified so as to form a prehensile organ. Mask house, a house for masquerades. [Obs.]

Mask, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Masked; p. pr. & vb. n. Masking.]

1. To cover, as the face, by way of concealment or defense against injury; to conceal with a mask or visor. They must all be masked and vizarded. Shak.

2. To disguise; to cover; to hide. Masking the business from the common eye. Shak.

3. (Mil.) (a) To conceal; also, to intervene in the line of. (b) To cover or keep in check; as, to mask a body of troops or a fortess by a superior force, while some hostile evolution is being carried out.

Mask, v. i.

1. To take part as a masker in a masquerade. Cavendish.

2. To wear a mask; to be disguised in any way. Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

MASK

Etymology 1

Noun

Synonyms

Hyponyms

Verb

Etymology 2

Noun

Etymology 3

Noun

Verb

Etymology 4

Verb

Anagrams

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