mask
noun
\ ˈmask
\
\
Definition of mask
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a(1)
: a cover or partial cover for the face used for disguise
(2)
: a person wearing a mask : masker
b(1)
: a figure of a head worn on the stage in antiquity to identify the character and project the voice
(2)
: a grotesque false face worn at carnivals or in rituals
c
: an often grotesque carved head or face used as an ornament (as on a keystone)
d
: a sculptured face or a copy of a face made by means of a mold
b
: something that conceals from view
c
: a translucent or opaque screen to cover part of the sensitive surface in taking or printing a photograph
d
: a pattern of opaque material used to shield selected areas of a surface (as of a semiconductor) in deposition or etching (as in producing an integrated circuit)
3a
: a protective covering for the face
b
: gas mask
c
: a device covering the mouth and nose to facilitate inhalation
d
: a comparable device to prevent exhalation of infectious material
e
or less commonly masque
: a cosmetic preparation for the skin of the face that produces a tightening effect as it dries
4a
: the head or face of an animal (such as a fox or dog)
b
: an area (such as the one around the eyes) of an animal's face that is distinguished by usually darker coloring
mask
verb
masked;
masking;
masks
Definition of mask (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to take part in a masquerade
2a
: to assume a mask
b
: to disguise one's true character or intentions
1
: to provide or conceal with a mask: such as
a
: to conceal from view
mask a gun battery
b
: to make indistinct or imperceptible
masks undesirable flavors
c
: to cover up
masked his real purpose
2
: to cover for protection
3
: to modify the size or shape of (something, such as a photograph) by means of an opaque border
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Other Words from mask
Verb
masklike
\ ˈmask-ˌlīk
\
adjective
\
adjective
Synonyms & Antonyms for mask
Synonyms: Noun
Synonyms: Verb
camouflage, cloak, disguise, dress up
Antonyms: Verb
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Examples of mask in a Sentence
Noun
Everyone wore costumes and masks to the dance. Doctors wear surgical masks in the operating room.Verb
The house was masked by trees. They tried to mask their real purpose. She tried using perfume to mask the bad odor.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The sheet mask with an A-list following (Gigi Hadid and Gwyneth Paltrow are fans), SK-II Facial Treatment Mask ($23.35; amazon.com) isn't cheap, but might be worth the splurge. — Nikhita Mahtani, CNN Underscored, "10 top-rated sheet masks you can buy on Amazon right now," 11 Sep. 2019 Police used officers on bikes and in riot gear to keep black-clad, helmet- and mask-wearing anti-fascist protesters — known as antifa — from following them. — Gillian Flaccus, The Denver Post, "At least 13 people arrested at Portland, Oregon, protest," 17 Aug. 2019 Meanwhile, black-clad, helmet and mask-wearing Antifa members were also among the several hundred people on the streets. — Fox News, "Portland mayor praises police after 'largely peaceful' day of far-right, far-left demonstrations," 17 Aug. 2019 Police used officers on bikes and in riot gear to keep black-clad, helmet- and mask-wearing anti-fascist protesters — known as antifa — from following them. — Gillian Flaccus, chicagotribune.com, "Police arrest at least 13 people and seize metal poles, bear spray as right-wing groups and counter-protesters swarm downtown Portland," 17 Aug. 2019 Police used officers on bikes and in riot gear to keep black-clad, helmet- and mask-wearing anti-fascist protesters — known as antifa — from following them. — Gillian Flaccus, Twin Cities, "At least 13 people arrested at Portland protest," 17 Aug. 2019 Costume designer Marina Toybina previously told EW one of her goals for the new season was to make sure the costumes had more mobility and the masks were easier to see through. — Lauren Huff, EW.com, "The Masked Singer season 2 promo shows crazy look at new contestants," 14 Aug. 2019 After patting her skin dry, the model applies a foil sheet mask from Estee Lauder. — Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, "Watch Model Lais Ribeiro's Nighttime Skincare Routine," 8 Aug. 2019 The Korean beauty care segment grew popular with sheet masks, which saw instant recognition among consumers. — Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz India, "Flipkart says Indians are adding Korean beauty products to their carts like never before," 25 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The new policies are aimed at curbing political advertisers' attempts to mask their identities or impersonate others. — Brian Fung, CNN, "Facebook rolls out stricter political ad rules ahead of 2020," 28 Aug. 2019 There is Vicodin and other addictive opioids to mask pain. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Just because Andrew Luck does superhuman things doesn’t mean he’s not human," 26 Aug. 2019 The group quickly changed its name to a string of nonsense characters, 'asdgrfhtyjujtrgefgrefgrtyuafw,' to mask its origins. — Dan Patterson, CBS News, "8chan users are moving to Discord, where your kids are playing video games," 26 Aug. 2019 What appear, at first, to be sequences of several minutes are revealed, upon closer observation, to be short clips in repeating loops, cross-faded to mask any glitches in the matrix. — Sarah Rose Sharp, cleveland.com, "Attention Must Be Paid: ‘Intercepted’ moments at H-Space," 25 Aug. 2019 They were also seen as way to mask socioeconomic disparities. — Washington Post, "School uniforms are on the rise — even for toddlers — and it’s changing back-to-school shopping," 21 Aug. 2019 Sandoval received a cortisone shot in his elbow and a MRI on Sunday, but the injection did little to mask the persistent pain and inflammation the switch-hitting infielder is forced to deal with. — Kerry Crowley, The Mercury News, "Pablo Sandoval’s elbow injury a crushing blow to Giants team that needs his energy," 14 Aug. 2019 Where conservatives in the past have employed dog whistle rhetoric to mask the manipulation of racial tensions, Trump’s itchy Twitter fingers dole out something more like smart missile rhetoric. — Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, The New Republic, "The Destructive Politics of White Amnesia," 6 Aug. 2019 Black materialism appeals to fashion to mask insecurity. — Joshua Burrell, baltimoresun.com, "Joshua Burrell: Growing up black in Columbia," 1 Aug. 2019
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mask.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors.