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Definition of bash verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

bash

verb
 
/bæʃ/
 
/bæʃ/
(informal)
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they bash
 
/bæʃ/
 
/bæʃ/
he / she / it bashes
 
/ˈbæʃɪz/
 
/ˈbæʃɪz/
past simple bashed
 
/bæʃt/
 
/bæʃt/
past participle bashed
 
/bæʃt/
 
/bæʃt/
-ing form bashing
 
/ˈbæʃɪŋ/
 
/ˈbæʃɪŋ/
Phrasal Verbs
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  1. [transitive, intransitive] to hit somebody/something very hard
    • bash somebody/something + adv./prep. He stood up, bashing his head on the ceiling.
    • The lifeboats are constantly bashed about by rocks and floating debris.
    • bash into somebody/something I braked too late and bashed into the car in front.
    Synonyms hithitknock bang strike bump bashThese words all mean to come against something with a lot of force.hit to come against somebody/​something with force, especially causing damage or injury:
    • The boy was hit by a speeding car.
    knock to hit something so that it moves or breaks; to put somebody/​something into a particular state or position by hitting them/​it:
    • Someone had knocked a hole in the wall.
    bang to hit something in a way that makes a loud noise:
    • The baby was banging the table with his spoon.
    strike (formal) to hit somebody/​something hard:
    • The ship struck a rock.
    bump to hit somebody/​something by accident:
    • In the darkness I bumped into a chair.
    bash (informal) to hit against something very hard:
    • I braked too late, bashing into the car in front.
    Patterns
    • to hit/​knock/​bang/​bump/​bash against somebody/​something
    • to knock/​bang/​bump/​bash into somebody/​something
    • to hit/​strike the ground/​floor/​wall
    Extra Examples
    • He bashed the burglar over the head with a lamp.
    • Someone bashed him on the nose.
    • He had been attacked and bashed about a bit.
    • I bashed my knee on the corner of the table.
    • I tripped and bashed my head against a wall.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionarypreposition
    • on
    • with
    phrases
    • bash somebody about
    • bash somebody up
    See full entry
  2. [transitive] bash somebody/something to criticize somebody/something strongly
    • Bashing politicians is normal practice in the press.
    • a liberal-bashing administration
    see also bashing
  3. Word Originmid 17th cent. (as a verb): imitative, perhaps a blend of bang and smash, dash, etc.
See bash in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
generic
adjective
 
 
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