Library / English Dictionary

DASH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A quick run

Synonyms:

dash; sprint

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("dash" is a kind of...):

run; running (the act of running; traveling on foot at a fast pace)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dash"):

break (a sudden dash)

Derivation:

dash (run or move very quickly or hastily)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of moving with great haste

Example:

he made a dash for the door

Synonyms:

bolt; dash

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("dash" is a kind of...):

haste; hurry; rush; rushing (the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner)

Derivation:

dash (run or move very quickly or hastily)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Distinctive and stylish elegance

Example:

he wooed her with the confident dash of a cavalry officer

Synonyms:

dash; elan; flair; panache; style

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("dash" is a kind of...):

elegance (a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The longer of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code

Synonyms:

dah; dash

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("dash" is a kind of...):

radiotelegraphic signal; telegraphic signal (a signal transmitted by telegraphy)

Holonyms ("dash" is a part of...):

international Morse code; Morse; Morse code (a telegraph code in which letters and numbers are represented by strings of dots and dashes (short and long signals))

Sense 5

Meaning:

A punctuation mark (-) used between parts of a compound word or between the syllables of a word when the word is divided at the end of a line of text

Synonyms:

dash; hyphen

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("dash" is a kind of...):

punctuation; punctuation mark (the marks used to clarify meaning by indicating separation of words into sentences and clauses and phrases)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A footrace run at top speed

Example:

he is preparing for the 100-yard dash

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("dash" is a kind of...):

track event (a footrace performed on a track (indoor or outdoor))

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Add an enlivening or altering element to

Example:

blue paint dashed with white

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "dash" is one way to...):

mix; mix in (add as an additional element or part)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Break into pieces, as by striking or knocking over

Example:

Smash a plate

Synonyms:

dash; smash

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "dash" is one way to...):

break (destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments)

Verb group:

smash (break suddenly into pieces, as from a violent blow)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dash"):

blast; knock down (shatter as if by explosion)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Hurl or thrust violently

Example:

Waves were dashing against the rock

Synonyms:

crash; dash

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "dash" is one way to...):

cast; hurl; hurtle (throw forcefully)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 4

Meaning:

Cause to lose courage

Example:

dashed by the refusal

Synonyms:

dash; daunt; frighten away; frighten off; pall; scare; scare away; scare off

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "dash" is one way to...):

intimidate (to compel or deter by or as if by threats)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Sense 5

Meaning:

Run or move very quickly or hastily

Example:

She dashed into the yard

Synonyms:

dart; dash; flash; scoot; scud; shoot

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "dash" is one way to...):

belt along; bucket along; cannonball along; hasten; hie; hotfoot; pelt along; race; rush; rush along; speed; step on it (move hurridly)

Verb group:

buck; charge; shoot; shoot down; tear (move quickly and violently)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dash"):

plunge (dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

dash (a quick run)

dash (the act of moving with great haste)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Destroy or break

Example:

dashed ambitions and hopes

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "dash" is one way to...):

baffle; bilk; cross; foil; frustrate; queer; scotch; spoil; thwart (hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Credits

 Context examples: 

Hear me; let me reveal my tale, and you will dash the cup from your lips!

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

The Lion became quite angry at the laughter caused by the Scarecrow's mishap, and giving a loud roar that echoed like thunder, he dashed up the hill.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Some of the people threw up stones, hoping to drive the monkey down; but this was strictly forbidden, or else, very probably, my brains had been dashed out.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

He was out on the lawn, in through the window, round the room, and up into the bedroom, for all the world like a dashing foxhound drawing a cover.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

To and fro, up and down, north, south, east, and west, the HISPANIOLA sailed by swoops and dashes, and at each repetition ended as she had begun, with idly flapping canvas.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

But there was a certain dash and glare about him that caught her.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

His traces were fastened, the sled broken out, and with both men running they dashed out on to the river trail.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Lying back on the sofa, she read the manuscript carefully through, making dashes here and there, and putting in many exclamation points, which looked like little balloons.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Every instinct of his nature would have impelled him to dash wildly away, had there not suddenly and for the first time arisen in him another and counter instinct.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

One by one the poor devils have to jump, and the game is to see whether they are merely dashed to pieces or whether they get skewered on the canes.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)