📖 M — The English dictionary · page 53

mussel — Everyday, meaning 1: A mussel is a sea or river shellfish with a long dark blue or black shell in two halves.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Mussels are cooked and eaten as food.↗ Example: Mussels cling to the rocks at low tide.↗ · Dad ordered mussels with chips.↗ · A mussel opens its shell to feed.↗ · Don't eat a mussel that stays closed after cooking.↗ · The rocks were black with mussels.↗ · Mussels clean the water by filtering it.↗ · The mussel shell grew bigger and bigger, and turned into a pretty little boat, which would have held a dozen children.↗

must — Everyday, meaning 1: Must means something has to happen; it is needed or it is a rule: «You must wear shoes.».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Must also means you are almost sure something is true: «You must be tired.».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: «Must not» means it is not allowed.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: A must is something you really should do or have: «Sunscreen is a must.».↗ Everyday, meaning 5: «Must have» + past form means you are almost sure about the past: «It must have rained.».↗ Everyday, meaning 6: (casual) «Gotta» and «have to» are the everyday words for must: «gotta go», «I've gotta save 30 more».↗ Everyday, meaning 7: (rough, sarcastic) «Must you?» means stop it, you are annoying; «if you must» means I don't like it, but fine.↗ Everyday, meaning 8: (formal) «Shall», «is required to», «is obliged to» and «it is necessary that» are the stiff words: «Each candidate shall provide…».↗ Example: How many more pages must she read?↗ · He must save 30 dollars more.↗ · Each box must hold 6 eggs.↗ · How many buses must they rent?↗ · You must not swim without a grown-up.↗ · Everyone must wear a helmet on a bike.↗ · The grass is wet, so it must have rained.↗ · You must be hungry after the long walk.↗ · gotta get 30 more bucks before sat, how many weeks at 5 a week (casual)↗ · Must you bang that drum?↗ Give it a rest.↗ (rough)↗ · That film is a must-see.↗ · Each vehicle is required to accommodate 40 passengers; determine the minimum number of vehicles necessitated for 130 persons.↗ (formal exam)↗ · I must know more of them."↗ · And he answered and said: 'Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD putteth in my mouth?'↗ (Torah NUM.23.12, JPS 1917)↗ · But Balaam answered and said unto Balak: 'Told not I thee, saying: All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?'↗ (Torah NUM.23.26, JPS 1917)↗ · And Moses said: 'Thou must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt-offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God.↗ (Torah EXO.10.25, JPS 1917)↗ · And how must the wise man die even as the fool!↗ (Writings ECC.2.16, JPS 1917)↗ · When I think thereon, O God, I must moan; when I muse thereon, my spirit fainteth.↗ (Writings PSA.77.4, JPS 1917)↗ · For thou loathest it, so that thou must choose, and not I; therefore speak what thou knowest.↗ (Writings JOB.34.33, JPS 1917)↗

mustache — Everyday, meaning 1: A mustache is the hair that grows on a man's upper lip.↗ (American spelling; British English says moustache.).↗ Example: He smiled under his mustache.↗ · Someone tried to paint a mustache under his nose.↗ · She laughed at his long mustache.↗

mustang — Everyday, meaning 1: A small, tough, half-wild horse of the western USA, descended from horses brought by the Spanish.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (with a capital M) The name of a famous American sports car, the Ford Mustang, and of a Second World War fighter plane, the P-51 Mustang.↗ Example: Herds of wild mustangs still roam parts of Nevada.↗ · The cowboy tamed a young mustang.↗ · Mustangs came from horses the Spanish brought to America.↗ · My uncle drives a red Mustang.↗ · The mustang galloped across the plains with its mane flying.↗ · We read a story about a girl and a wild mustang.↗ · The P-51 Mustang was a famous fighter plane.↗

mustard — Everyday, meaning 1: Mustard is a hot-tasting yellow or brown paste or sauce made from the seeds of the mustard plant, eaten with meat and hot dogs.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The mustard plant has small yellow flowers and tiny seeds.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A dark yellow colour.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (UK, informal) «Keen as mustard» means very eager.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: «Cut the mustard» (informal) means be good enough.↗ Everyday, meaning 6: Mustard can also mean the leafy green plant of the mustard family, eaten as a vegetable.↗ Example: Dad puts mustard on his hot dog.↗ · We grew mustard and cress on cotton wool.↗ · The mustard seed is tiny, but the plant grows big.↗ · Jesus told the parable of the mustard seed.↗ · She wore a mustard-yellow jumper.↗ · English mustard is very hot!↗ · The new player is keen as mustard.↗ · I got mustard, en poke salid, en lam's quarter in dat baskit, en me en my ole 'oman gwineter sample it.↗

muster — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: To muster is to gather or bring together, such as courage or strength.↗ In Jewish tradition, meaning 2: To muster is to gather people, such as soldiers, into a group.↗ In Jewish tradition, meaning 3: A muster is a gathering of soldiers or people called together.↗ Example: And king Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time, and mustered all Israel.↗ (Prophets 2KI.3.6, JPS 1917)↗ · And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.↗ (Prophets 1KI.20.26, JPS 1917)↗ · And the children of Israel were mustered, and were victualled, and went against them; and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Arameans filled the country.↗ (Prophets 1KI.20.27, JPS 1917)↗ · She mustered all her strength and gave one more scream.↗ · He mustered his courage and climbed the tree.↗ · The captain called the crew to muster on deck.↗

musty — Everyday, meaning 1: Musty means smelling damp, stale or old, as a room or food does when it has not been aired.↗ Example: They gave me onions and musty wine.↗ · The cellar smelled musty.↗ · Musty eggs were served at the feast.↗

mutant — Everyday, meaning 1: A mutant is a living thing whose genes have changed, so it is different from its parents in some way, like a white tiger or a plant with odd leaves.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: In science fiction and comics, mutants are characters with strange bodies or superpowers, like the X-Men or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (informal) «Mutant» can be a joking word for anything odd-looking: «a mutant carrot».↗ Example: A white tiger is a mutant with a changed colour gene.↗ · Scientists studied mutant fruit flies.↗ · The X-Men are a team of mutants.↗ · We grew a mutant carrot with three legs!↗ · Some mutants are healthy and some are not.↗ · A mutant virus can spread differently.↗ · The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles love pizza.↗ · In the comic, mutant powers appeared when the hero turned thirteen.↗

mutation — Everyday, meaning 1: A mutation is a change in the genes (DNA) of a living thing, which can cause a new feature; most mutations make no difference, some are harmful, a few are helpful.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A mutation is any change in form, a change from one shape or kind into another.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: In some languages like Welsh and Irish, a mutation is a change to the first sound of a word.↗ Example: A mutation in its genes gave the cat extra toes.↗ · Mutations happen by chance when DNA is copied.↗ · Most mutations are neither good nor bad.↗ · The virus developed a mutation that helped it spread.↗ · In the comic, a mutation gave the boy super strength.↗ · A helpful mutation can spread through a population over time.↗ · Welsh has mutations, so «cath» (cat) can become «gath».↗

mute — Everyday, meaning 1: To mute a sound, phone, TV or video call is to turn its sound off so nothing can be heard; the mute button does this.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Mute means silent, not speaking: she stayed mute.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Muted colours or sounds are soft, quiet or not bright.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: A mute on a musical instrument, like a trumpet or violin, is something that makes its sound quieter or different.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: (old-fashioned, now offensive) Mute was once used for a person who cannot speak; today we say «non-speaking» or «a person who does not speak».↗ Example: Please mute your microphone when the teacher is talking.↗ · Dad, you're still on mute!↗ · She muted the TV during the adverts.↗ · He stood mute with shock.↗ · The room was painted in muted greens and greys.↗ · The trumpet player put a mute in his trumpet.↗ · A mute swan is a white swan with an orange beak.↗ · You can mute a group chat if it gets too noisy.↗ · But Night stood still and mute.↗ · The three fundamental letters א״מ״ש signify, as מ is mute like the water and ש hissing like the fire, there is א among them, a breath of air which reconciles them.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗ · The Three are Water, Air and Fire ; Fire above, Water below, and Air conciliating between them ; and the sign of these things is that the Fire sustains (volatilizes) the waters ; Mem is mute.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗

muted — Everyday, meaning 1: Quiet and soft, not loud.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (of colours) Soft and not bright.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (of feelings or reactions) Not strong; held back.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (computing) With the sound turned off, as on a video call or phone.↗ Example: You're muted, so we can't hear you.↗ · The teacher muted everyone during the video call.↗ · The room was painted in muted greens and greys.↗ · The trumpet sounded muted with the cup in it.↗ · The news got a muted reaction from the crowd.↗ · I muted the TV during the adverts.↗

mutilate — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: To damage something badly by cutting or tearing off a part of it.↗

mutilated — Everyday, meaning 1: Mutilated means badly damaged, cut or broken, especially a body part that has been harmed.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Mutilated can mean that a text or picture has been damaged so that it is hard to read or understand.↗ Example: The false bride had a mutilated foot.↗ · The writing is mutilated, so we cannot read it.↗ · The old map was badly mutilated.↗

mutiny — Everyday, meaning 1: A mutiny is a rebellion, when a group of sailors or soldiers refuse to obey their leader and fight against him.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To mutiny is to take part in such a rebellion.↗ Example: “Is this mutiny?” asked Hook.↗ · The sailors planned a mutiny.↗ · The crew decided to mutiny at dawn.↗

mutt — Everyday, meaning 1: (informal) A dog of no particular breed, a mixed-breed dog; often said with love.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal, old-fashioned, insult) A silly or stupid person.↗ Example: Our dog is a mutt from the rescue centre.↗ · That scruffy mutt keeps stealing our ball.↗ · Mutts can make great pets.↗ · «Come here, you silly mutt!» laughed Dad.↗ · The little mutt wagged its tail.↗ · Nobody knows what breeds are mixed in our mutt.↗ · Don't be such a mutt, it's easy!↗

mutter — Everyday, meaning 1: To speak quietly and unclearly, often to yourself, so others cannot hear well.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To complain quietly, often in an angry or grumpy way: muttering about the rain.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (noun) Quiet, unclear speech: a mutter of complaint.↗ Example: «This isn't fair,» he muttered.↗ · She muttered something I couldn't hear.↗ · Grandpa muttered about the price of bread.↗ · Speak up, don't mutter!↗ · The wizard muttered a spell under his breath.↗ · The crowd began to mutter angrily.↗ · I heard a mutter from the back of the class.↗ · He muttered to himself as he searched for his keys.↗ · “'He is coming!' said the people,” muttered old Iktomi.↗ · And why do the peoples mutter in vain?↗ (Writings PSA.2.1, JPS 1917)↗ · And when they shall say unto you: 'Seek unto the ghosts and the familiar spirits, that chirp and that mutter; should not a people seek unto their God? on behalf of the living unto the dead (Prophets ISA.8.19, JPS 1917)↗

muttering — Everyday, meaning 1: (verb form) -ing form of mutter: he was muttering to himself.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (noun) Quiet, unclear speech, often complaining: we heard muttering at the back.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (mutterings, plural) Quiet complaints or rumours from a group: mutterings of discontent.↗ Example: The old man walked off, muttering to himself.↗ · There was muttering in the crowd when the match was delayed.↗ · Stop muttering and tell me what's wrong.↗ · I could hear her muttering about homework.↗ · Mutterings spread through the class when the test was announced.↗ · He was muttering spells from his book.↗ · But the dwarfs came a step nearer, muttering and whispering.↗ · The lips of those that rose up against me, and their muttering against me all the day.↗ (Writings LAM.3.62, JPS 1917)↗

mutton — Everyday, meaning 1: Meat from an adult sheep, older than lamb, with a stronger taste.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: In the saying «mutton dressed as lamb» (UK, informal, unkind): an older person dressed in clothes made for much younger people.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Mutton head is an informal, unkind way to call someone stupid.↗ Example: Grandma made a mutton stew with potatoes and carrots.↗ · Mutton comes from older sheep and lamb from young ones.↗ · The restaurant sells spicy mutton curry.↗ · In the old story the farmer ate bread and cold mutton.↗ · Mutton takes a long time to cook so it gets tender.↗ · «Mutton chops» are also long sideburns on a man's face.↗ · It is rude to say someone looks like mutton dressed as lamb.↗ · Can it be a crime to eat sheep, such stupid mutton heads?↗

mutual — Everyday, meaning 1: Mutual means felt or done by each of two or more people towards the other: mutual respect, mutual help.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Mutual means shared by two or more people: a mutual friend, a mutual interest.↗ Example: The two teams showed mutual respect.↗ · Jack and Ella met through a mutual friend.↗ · Their friendship was based on mutual trust.↗ · We have a mutual love of football.↗ · «I like you.»↗ «The feeling is mutual!»↗ · The decision was by mutual agreement.↗ · And they made this mutual agreement.↗