Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sudden, quick movement or run: A short, fast run or movement, often made with urgency or haste.
   • A small amount of something added: A small quantity of a substance, especially a liquid, added to something else to give it flavor or character.
   • A horizontal line used in writing or printing: A punctuation mark (—) used to indicate a pause, a break in thought, or to set off parenthetical information. Also, the longer signal in Morse code.
   • Style and confidence: A sense of stylish and spirited confidence in one's appearance or actions.
   • A short race run at full speed: A sprinting race over a short distance.

2. Verb:

   • To run or move very quickly and suddenly: To move with great speed and urgency.
   • To strike or throw something with great force: To hurl or smash something violently against a surface.
   • To destroy or ruin something, especially hopes or plans: To shatter or frustrate something completely.
   • To add a small amount of something: To mix or sprinkle a small quantity of one substance into another.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • He made a dash for the exit when the alarm sounded.
  • Add a dash of salt to the soup.
  • Use a dash to separate clauses in the sentence.
  • She arrived with great dash and flair.
  • He won the 100-meter dash.

• Verb:

  • She had to dash to catch the bus.
  • In his anger, he dashed the vase to the floor.
  • The news dashed their hopes of an early victory.
  • Dash the mixture with a little lemon juice.

Advanced Usage

• To cut a dash: To look stylish and impressive in one's dress or manner.

  • He really cut a dash in his new suit at the party.

• To make a dash for it: To try to escape or reach a place by running suddenly and quickly.

  • When the guard looked away, the prisoner made a dash for it.

Variants and Related Words

• Dashboard (n): The panel in a vehicle containing instruments and controls. (Note: This is a compound word where 'dash' is part of it).
• Dashing (adj): Attractive, stylish, and full of confidence.
  • He was a dashing young officer.
• Dashy (adj): Showy or stylish in appearance (less common).

Synonyms

• Noun (movement): Sprint, rush, bolt.
• Noun (small amount): Pinch, bit, touch, sprinkle.
• Verb (run): Rush, sprint, bolt, race.
• Verb (destroy): Shatter, crush, ruin, blight.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Dash off: To write or draw something very quickly; to leave a place in a hurry.

  • I'll just dash off a quick email before the meeting.
  • He dashed off without saying goodbye.

• Dash against: (Of waves, etc.) To strike something with force.

  • The waves dashed against the seawall.

Related Idioms

• Dash someone's hopes/spirits: To destroy someone's hopes or make them feel less confident or happy.

  • Losing the championship dashed the team's hopes for a perfect season.

• Dash it (all)!: A mild, old-fashioned exclamation of annoyance.

  • Dash it all! I've locked my keys in the car.

Noun

1. the act of moving with great haste
   • he made a dash for the door
2. the longer of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code
3. a punctuation mark (-) used between parts of a compound word or between the syllables of a word when the word is divided at the end of a line of text
4. a footrace run at top speed
   • he is preparing for the 100-yard dash
5. a quick run
6. distinctive and stylish elegance
   • he wooed her with the confident dash of a cavalry officer

Verb

1. add an enlivening or altering element to
   • blue paint dashed with white
2. cause to lose courage
   • dashed by the refusal
3. destroy or break
   • dashed ambitions and hopes
4. hurl or thrust violently
   • He dashed the plate against the wall
   • Waves were dashing against the rock
5. break into pieces, as by striking or knocking over
   • Smash a plate
6. run or move very quickly or hastily
   • She dashed into the yard