First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1mess
noun \ˈmes\
: a very dirty or untidy state or condition
: something or someone that looks very dirty or untidy
: a situation that is very complicated or difficult to deal with
Full Definition of MESS
1
: a quantity of food: a archaic : food set on a table at one time b : a prepared dish of soft food; also : a mixture of ingredients cooked or eaten together c : enough food of a specified kind for a dish or a meal <picked a mess of peas for dinner>
2
a : a group of persons who regularly take their meals together; also : a meal so taken b : a place where meals are regularly served to a group : mess hall
3
a : a disordered, untidy, offensive, or unpleasant state or condition <your room is in a mess> b : one that is disordered, untidy, offensive, or unpleasant usually because of blundering, laxity, or misconduct <[the movie] is a mess, as sloppy in concept as it is in execution — Judith Crist>
4
: a large quantity or number
See mess defined for English-language learners
See mess defined for kids
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Origin of MESS
Middle English mes, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin missus course at a meal, from missus, past participle of mittere to put, from Latin, to send — more at smite
Related to MESS
- Synonyms
- chance-medley, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, dishevelment, disorder, disorderedness, disorderliness, disorganization, free-for-all, havoc, heck, hell, jumble, mare's nest, chaos, messiness, misorder, muddle, muss, shambles, snake pit, tumble, welter
- Antonyms
- order, orderliness
2mess
verb
Definition of MESS
transitive verb
1
: to provide with meals at a mess
2
a : to make dirty or untidy : disarrange —often used with up <don't mess up your room> b : to mix up : bungle —often used with up <really messed up my life>
3
: to interfere with —often used with up <magnetic storms that mess up communications — Time>
4
: to rough up : manhandle —often used with up <mess him up good so he won't cheat us again>
intransitive verb
1
: to take meals with a mess
2
: to make a mess
3
a : putter, trifle <children like to mess around with paints> b : to handle or play with something especially carelessly <don't mess with my camera> —often used with around c : to take an active interest in something or someone <messing around with new video techniques>; also : interfere, meddle <messing in other people's affairs> <you'd better not mess with me>
4
: to become confused or make an error —usually used with up
See mess defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of MESS
14th century
MESS[1] Defined for Kids
1mess
noun \ˈmes\
Definition of MESS for Kids
1
: a dirty or untidy state <They left things in a mess.>
2
: something in a dirty or untidy state <Your hair is a mess.>
3
: a difficult situation <How do you get into these messes?>
4
: a group of people (as military personnel) who regularly eat together
5
: a place (as in the military) where meals are served
2mess
verb
messedmess·ing
Definition of MESS for Kids
1
: to make dirty or untidy <They messed the place up.>
2
: to make mistakes in or mix up <She messed up the speech.>
3
: to become confused or make an error <I messed up the first time.>
4
: to use or do in an aimless way <I messed around on the computer all afternoon.>
5
: to handle in a careless way <Stop messing with my camera.>
6
: to deal with in a way that may cause anger or trouble <Don't mess with them.>
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