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1. Dictionary

   mess

   /mɛs/

   noun

   • 1. a dirty or untidy state of things or of a place: "she made a mess of the kitchen" Similar untidinessdisorderdisarrayclutterheapshambleslittertanglejumblemuddlemishmashchaosconfusiondisorganizationturmoilinformal:muckfrightsightdog's dinner/breakfasttip
   • ▪ a thing or collection of things causing a dirty or untidy state: "she replaced the jug and mopped up the mess"
   • ▪ a person who is dirty or untidy: "I look a mess"
   • ▪ used euphemistically to refer to the excrement of a domestic animal: "dog mess" Similar excrementdungmuckfaecesexcretadirt
   • 2. a situation that is confused and full of problems: "the economy is still in a terrible mess" Similar plightpredicamentemergencytight spottight cornerdifficultystraitstroublequandarydilemmaproblemmuddlemix-upconfusioncomplicationimbroglioentanglementmireinformal:jamfixpicklestewhot waterholepretty/fine kettle of fishscrapemuddlebotchbunglewreckinformal:hashmuckfoul-upscrew-upcock-upshamblesomnishamblescar crashsnafuvulgar slang:fuck-upballs-up
   • ▪ a person whose life is confused and full of problems: "he needs treatment of some kind—he's a real mess"
   • 3. a portion of semi-liquid food: "a mess of mashed black beans and rice"
   • 4. a building or room providing meals and recreational facilities for members of the armed forces: "the sergeants' mess"
   • 5. a large amount or quantity of: informal North American "big-time outfits that do a mess of printing"

   verb

   • 1. make untidy or dirty: "she scratched her head, messing her hair still further"
   • ▪ (of a domestic animal) defecate: "they had some problems with dogs messing in the store"
   • ▪ make dirty by defecating: "he feared he would mess the bed"
   • 2. have one's meals with a particular person, especially as a member of an armed forces' mess: "I messed at first with Harry, who became a lifelong friend"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French mes ‘portion of food’, from late Latin missum ‘something put on the table’, past participle of mittere ‘send, put’. The original sense was ‘a serving of (semi-liquid) food’, later ‘liquid food for an animal’; this gave rise (early 19th century) to the senses ‘unappetizing concoction’ and ‘predicament’, on which sense 1 is based. In late Middle English the term also denoted any of the small groups into which the company at a banquet was divided (who were served from the same dishes); hence, ‘a group who regularly eat together’ (recorded in military use from the mid 16th century).

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • M

     3

   • E

     1

   • S

     1

   • S

     1

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishMESS | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   MESS definition: 1. Mess or a mess is something or someone that looks dirty or untidy: 2. an animal's solid waste…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › messMess Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › mess

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   The meaning of MESS is a quantity of food. How to use mess in a sentence. a quantity of food:; food set on a table at one time; a prepared dish of soft food; also : a mixture of ingredients cooked or eaten together…

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryMESS | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   MESS meaning: 1. Mess or a mess is something or someone that looks dirty or untidy: 2. an animal's solid waste…. Learn more.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishMESS definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   A mess is something liquid or sticky that has been accidentally dropped on something. Finally, making a dreadful mess, they devour the fruit. I'll clear up the mess later.

6. en.wiktionary.org › wiki › messmess - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

   en.wiktionary.org › wiki › mess

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   5 days ago · mess (third-person singular simple present messes, present participle messing, simple past and past participle messed) (intransitive) To take meals with a mess. (intransitive) To belong to a mess. (intransitive) To eat (with others). 1836, George Simpson & al., HBC Standing Rules and Regulations, §18: Resolved 18.

7. www.dictionary.com › browse › messMESS Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › mess

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   a person or thing that is dirty, untidy, or disordered. a state of embarrassing confusion: My affairs are in a mess. Synonyms: muddle, hodgepodge, farrago, confusion, disarray, disorder. an unpleasant or difficult situation: She got into a mess driving without a license. Synonyms: pickle, plight, predicament.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishmess noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Definition of mess noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. mess. noun. /mes/ untidy state. [countable, usually singular] a dirty or untidy state. in a mess The room was in a mess. The kids made a mess in the bathroom. ‘What a mess!’ she said, surveying the scene after the party. My hair's a real mess! Extra Examples.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishMESS | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   MESS definition: 1. Someone or something that is a mess, or is in a mess, is dirty or untidy: 2. a confused or…. Learn more.

10. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › messMess - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

    www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › mess

    A mess is a generally dirty state, like your bedroom, your hair, or anything else that's untidy. If you make a huge mess when you cook, you probably try to get someone else to do the clean-up.

11. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american_englishmess noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american_english

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    difficult situation. [countable, usually singular] a situation that is full of problems, usually because of a lack of organization or because of mistakes that someone has made The economy is in a mess. I feel like I made a mess of things. The whole situation is a mess. Let's try to sort out this mess.