mess
4 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
messes
plural
messes
Britannica Dictionary definition of MESS
1
a
[count]
:
a very dirty or untidy state or condition
— usually singular
-
We found the papers in a mess.
-
It took years to clean up the mess caused by the oil spill.
-
She's the only cook in the family who never makes a mess of/in the kitchen.
b
[singular]
:
something or someone that looks very dirty or untidy
-
The apartment was a mess when he left it. = He left the apartment a mess.
-
He was a mess after gardening all day.
-
My hair is a mess.
2
[count]
a
:
a situation that is very complicated or difficult to deal with
-
I don't know how the economy got to be (in) such a mess.
-
Well, that's another fine mess you've gotten me into!
-
How do we get ourselves into these messes?
b
:
something that is not organized well or working correctly
-
The school system is a mess.
-
Things were a real mess for a while after she retired.
-
My life is a complete mess.
3
[singular]
informal
a
:
someone who is very unhappy, confused, etc.
-
She was a real mess for a while after her divorce.
b
US
:
someone who is showing a lot of emotion especially by crying
-
He was a mess during his daughter's wedding ceremony.
4
[count]
:
the place where people in the military eat
-
the officers' mess
— called also
mess hall
5
[singular]
US, informal
:
a large amount of something
— + of
-
a mess of cash
-
a mess of cabbage/greens/peas
-
They're in a mess of trouble. [=a lot of trouble]
6
informal
:
solid waste from an animal
[count]
-
The puppy made a mess on the rug.
[noncount]
-
cleaning up dog mess
make a mess of
:
to ruin (something) or to make many mistakes in doing (something)
-
The scandal made a mess of his political career.
-
The weather made a mess of our plans.
-
He made a mess of his speech.
2
mess
/ˈmɛs/
verb
messes;
messed;
messing
2
mess
/ˈmɛs/
verb
messes;
messed;
messing
Britannica Dictionary definition of MESS
mess around
[phrasal verb] informal or British mess about
1
:
to spend time doing things that are not useful or serious
:
to waste time
-
We just messed around [=fooled around] all afternoon.
-
She spent the evening messing around on the computer.
-
It's time we stopped messing around and got busy.
2
:
to have sex with someone who is not your husband, wife, or regular partner
— often + with
-
His wife discovered that he was messing around [=fooling around] (on her).
-
His wife discovered that he was messing around with his secretary.
3
mess (someone) around/about
British
:
to cause problems or trouble for (someone) especially by making changes that are not expected
-
I don't like being messed about this way!
4
mess around/about with (something)
a
:
to use or do (something) in a way that is not very serious
-
I'm not really a painter; I just like to mess around with paints.
-
She spent the evening messing around with [=fooling around with] the computer.
b
:
to handle or play with (something) in a careless or foolish way
-
Stop messing around [=fiddling around] with the stereo.
mess up
[phrasal verb] informal
1
:
to make a mistake
:
to do something incorrectly
— often + on
-
About halfway into the recipe, I realized that I had messed up, and I had to start over.
-
She's afraid she'll mess up on the test.
-
I messed up on my first attempt.
2
mess (something) up
or
mess up (something)
a
:
to make mistakes when you are doing or making (something)
-
He messed up the speech.
-
I messed up my first attempt and had to try again.
b
:
to make (something) dirty or untidy
:
to make a mess of (something)
-
Don't mess up my room.
-
The wind messed up her hair. = Her hair got messed up in the wind.
c
:
to damage or ruin (something)
:
to damage or change (something) so that it does not work properly
-
She's really messed up her life.
-
His life has been messed up by his drug addiction.
-
I don't know what I did, but I somehow messed up the computer.
-
My watch has been messed up [=has not worked properly] ever since I dropped it in the sink.
-
The mountains messed up the cell phone signal.
3
mess (someone) up
or
mess up (someone)
a
US
:
to beat and injure (someone)
-
He got messed up [=roughed up, beaten up] by a gang of bullies.
-
They messed him up pretty badly.
b
:
to make (someone) very upset and unhappy
-
Breaking up with her boyfriend has really messed her up.
-
She's been pretty messed up ever since she broke up with her boyfriend.
mess with
[phrasal verb] informal
1
mess with (someone)
:
to cause trouble for (someone)
:
to deal with (someone) in a way that may cause anger or violence
-
I wouldn't want to mess with him.
-
You'd better not be messing with me.
2
mess with (something)
a
chiefly US
:
to deal with or be involved with (something that causes or that could cause trouble)
-
The company doesn't want to mess with small distributors.
-
He doesn't want to mess with cocaine anymore.
b
:
to handle or play with (something) in a careless way
:
to mess around with (something)
-
Don't mess with the camera.
3
◊ In very informal English, something that messes with your mind/head causes you to feel confused.
-
The movie messes with your mind and you don't find out what's going on until the end.
