Dash /(dăsh)/

Dash

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Dashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dashing

  1. To throw with violence or haste; to cause to strike violently or hastily; -- often used with against.
    If you dash a stone against a stone in the botton of the water, it maketh a sound.
  2. To break, as by throwing or by collision; to shatter; to crust; to frustrate; to ruin.
    Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
    — Ps. ii. 9.
    A brave vessel, . . . Dashed all to pieces.
    To perplex and dash Maturest counsels.
  3. To put to shame; to confound; to confuse; to abash; to depress.
    Dash the proud gamester in his gilded car.
  4. To throw in or on in a rapid, careless manner; to mix, reduce, or adulterate, by throwing in something of an inferior quality; to overspread partially; to bespatter; to touch here and there; as, to dash wine with water; to dash paint upon a picture.
    I take care to dash the character with such particular circumstance as may prevent ill-natured applications.
    The very source and fount of day Is dashed with wandering isles of night.
  5. To form or sketch rapidly or carelessly; to execute rapidly, or with careless haste; -- with off; as, to dash off a review or sermon.
  6. To erase by a stroke; to strike out; knock out; -- with out; as, to dash out a word.

Dash

v. i.
  1. To rush with violence; to move impetuously; to strike violently; as, the waves dash upon rocks.
    [He] dashed through thick and thin.
    On each hand the gushing waters play, And down the rough cascade all dashing fall.

Dash

n.
  1. Violent striking together of two bodies; collision; crash.
  2. A sudden check; abashment; frustration; ruin; as, his hopes received a dash.
  3. A slight admixture, infusion, or adulteration; a partial overspreading; as, wine with a dash of water; red with a dash of purple.
    Innocence when it has in it a dash of folly.
  4. A rapid movement, esp. one of short duration; a quick stroke or blow; a sudden onset or rush; as, a bold dash at the enemy; a dash of rain.
    She takes upon her bravely at first dash.
  5. Energy in style or action; animation; spirit.
  6. A vain show; a blustering parade; a flourish; as, to make or cut a great dash. [Low]
  7. A mark or line [--], in writing or printing, denoting a sudden break, stop, or transition in a sentence, or an abrupt change in its construction, a long or significant pause, or an unexpected or epigrammatic turn of sentiment. Dashes are also sometimes used instead of marks or parenthesis. (Punctuation)
  8. The sign of staccato, a small mark [] denoting that the note over which it is placed is to be performed in a short, distinct manner. (Mus.)
  9. A short, spirited effort or trial of speed upon a race course; -- used in horse racing, when a single trial constitutes the race. (Racing)