TOP

Definition of dash noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

dash

noun
 
/dæʃ/
 
/dæʃ/
Idioms
jump to other results

    something done quickly

  1. [singular] a dash (for something) an act of going somewhere suddenly and/or quickly
    • When the doors opened, there was a mad dash for seats.
    • a 60-mile dash to safety
    • He jumped off the bus and made a dash for the nearest bar.
    • We waited for the police to leave then made a dash for it (= left quickly in order to escape).
    Extra Examples
    • He made a 200-mile dash to the hospital when a kidney donor became available.
    • We had to make a frantic dash across town to get our plane.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • quick
    • sudden
    • frantic
    • …
    verb + dash
    • make
    preposition
    • dash across
    • dash for
    • dash from
    • …
    See full entry
  2. [singular] an act of doing something quickly because you do not have enough time
    • a last-minute dash to buy presents
    • The book starts with a quick dash through the country's history.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • quick
    • sudden
    • frantic
    • …
    verb + dash
    • make
    preposition
    • dash across
    • dash for
    • dash from
    • …
    See full entry
    3.

    small amount

  3. [countable, usually singular] dash (of something) a small amount of something that is added to something else
    • Add a dash of lemon juice.
    • The rug adds a dash of colour to the room.
    • The album is a mixture of rock and gospel, with a dash of jazz thrown in.
    • The food is European with a dash of Morocco.
    compare splash
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + dash
    • add
    preposition
    • dash of
    See full entry
    4.

    symbol

  4. [countable] the mark (—) used to separate parts of a sentence, often instead of a colon or in pairs instead of brackets see also swung dash compare hyphenTopics Languageb2
  5. [countable] the longer of the two signals that are used in Morse code
    • It is broadcast in Morse code, the series of dots and dashes historically used to transmit information.
    compare dot (3)

    6. race

  6. [countable, usually singular] (especially North American English) a race in which the people taking part run very fast over a short distance synonym sprint
    • the 100-meter dash
    Topics Sports: other sportsc2

    7. way of behaving

  7. [uncountable] (old-fashioned, approving) a way of behaving that combines style, enthusiasm and confidence
    • He brought youthful energy, dash and charisma to the department.
    8.

    part of car

  8. [countable] (especially North American English, informal) a dashboard (= the part of a car in front of the driver that has instruments and controls in it)
    9. see also pebble-dash
    Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘strike forcibly against’): probably symbolic of forceful movement and related to Swedish and Danish daska.
Idioms
cut a dash
  1. (British English, old-fashioned) to look attractive in a particular set of clothes, especially in a way that makes other people notice you
    • He cut quite a dash in his uniform.
See dash in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee dash in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: dash

Nearby words

hide-and-seek
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Games and toys
C2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day