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v. dashed, dash·ing, dash·es v.intr. 1. To move with haste; rush: dashed into the room; dashed down the hall. 2. To strike violently; smash: waves dashing on the rocks. v.tr. 1. a. To break or smash by striking violently: The ship was dashed upon the rocks. b. To hurl, knock, or thrust with sudden violence: dashed the cup against the wall. c. To remove by striking or wiping: dash tears from one's face. 2. To splash; bespatter: dash water on one's face. 3. a. To write hastily. Often used with off: dashed off a note to the dean. b. To drink hastily. Often used with down: dashed down a glass of milk. 4. a. To add an enlivening or altering element to: a speech dashed with humor. b. To affect by adding another element or ingredient to: ice cream that was dashed with rum. 5. b. To discourage or dispirit: "This discouraging information a little dashed the child" (Charles Dickens). n. 1. A swift, violent blow or stroke: knocked the books to the floor with an impatient dash of his hand. 2. a. A splash: threw a dash of water on my face. b. A small amount of an added ingredient: a dash of sherry. 3. A quick stroke, as with a pencil or brush. 4. A sudden movement; a rush: made a dash for the exit. 5. Sports A footrace, usually less than a quarter-mile long, run at top speed from the outset. 6. A spirited quality in action or style; verve. See Synonyms at vigor. 7. Either of two symbols, an emdash or an endash, used in writing and in printing. 8. In Morse and similar codes, the long sound or signal used in combination with the dot and silent intervals to represent letters or numbers. 9. A dashboard. [Middle English dashen, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish daske, to beat.] |
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