mix
/mɪks
/verb [with object]
1Combine or put together to form one substance or mass: peppercorns are sometimes mixed with other spices these two chemicals, when mixed together, literally explode...
- It was a chemical reaction, the kind when you mix two substances that aren't supposed to be mixed together.
- Substances are mixed with all sorts of things to give them bulk and sell for triple the price.
- When enough of each of the ingredients in pure form are mixed together, the results are deadly.
1.1 [no object, often with negative] (Of different substances) be able to be combined to form one substance or mass: oil and water don’t mix...
- Oil and water do not mix because they are fundamentally different substances, not only in their obvious characteristics but also on a molecular scale.
- This explains why, in a closed system, 2 gases will always mix despite the fact that no heat may be exchanged.
- You will notice that you use fewer drops of essential oil for perfumes; this is because the essential oils don't mix as well with water and alcohol as they do with carrier oils.
1.2Make or prepare by combining various ingredients: mixing concrete is hard physical work...
- Each of the ingredients in the concrete, the proportions of those ingredients, and how the concrete is mixed, placed, and finished all affect the outcome.
- In terms of longevity, prepare to purchase and mix new developer about every five years or so.
- But biotech drugs can't be made by mixing a recipe of ingredients A, B, and C.
1.3Juxtapose or put together to form a whole whose constituent parts are still distinct: he continues to mix an off-hand sense of humour with a sharp insight...
- The album seems like it was conceived as a whole, mixing the spoken bits and the songs.
- He is perhaps the best representation of a new breed of artists who mix the musique concrete sounds of old and the digitized sounds of today.
- Elements of all three are mixed together in a blend that rapidly curdles.
2 [no object] (Of a person) associate with others socially: the people he mixed with were nothing to do with show business...
- By his own admission, he has mixed with ‘dangerous people, hustlers, all sorts’.
- Millionaires mixed with musicians, politicians rubbed shoulders with gangsters.
- Drinking alcohol has long been a favourite stimulant and helps people mix together socially in China.
Synonyms
associate, socialize, mingle, meet, get together, have dealings, fraternize, circulate, keep company, rub shoulders, consort, move, go out;
North American rub elbows
informal hang out/around, knock about/around, hobnob
British informal hang about
be compatible, get along/on, go (together), fit together, be in harmony, be like-minded, be of the same mind, be of like mind, see eye to eye, agree
informal hit it off, click, be on the same wavelength
3(Especially in sound recording) combine (two or more signals or soundtracks) into one: up to eight tracks can be mixed simultaneously...
- A danceable cumbia or salsa track is mixed with other sounds, everything from electronica to rap.
- The transmitter mixes the signal with some strong radio signals called carrier waves.
- Audience tracks were then mixed in stereo for the TV broadcast.
3.1Produce (a sound signal or recording) by combining a number of separate signals or recorded soundtracks: it was everyone’s dream to mix their album in their front room...
- An accomplishment any musician would admire, she played all the instruments, sang lead and backing vocals, then independently recorded and mixed the album.
- We have most of their album recorded and mixed, but we're looking for the hot single.
- We only had a few days' time to record, overdub and mix three songs.
3.2Produce (a piece of continuous music, typically dance music) by combining a number of separate recordings: Keith mixes great house music, featuring tunes with an African, Latin, and soulful flavour [no object]: music was blaring and there was a DJ in the corner mixing and scratching...
- There's no DJ mixing at the decks.
- L'Orchestre de la Francophonie plays at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., with a DJ mixing Brahms between symphonies, and at the post-concert party.
- There is really nothing "morphing" about a DJ mixing two tracks; it's a simple volume fade.
4 (mix it) informal Be belligerent physically or verbally: he can’t afford to mix it any more with a six-month suspended ban hanging over him...
- Knowing that in purely physical terms we can mix it with the best has given us a great amount of confidence and composure.
- I happen to think he is an excellent fighter, capable of mixing it with any of the world's top fighters.
- Aside from the bizarre frisson the elites enjoy from mixing it with roughnecks, there's also a common bond in seeing lowly workers as ‘mugs’.
noun
1 [usually in singular] Two or more different qualities, things, or people placed, combined, or considered together: the decor is a fascinating mix of antique and modern...
- The tour is a fascinating mix of anecdotal and historical stories combined with well-presented factual information.
- Like all successful teams they have realised that you must have a mix of quality and commitment as one without the other is no good.
- I think I've got a fair mix of ages and qualities.
Synonyms
mixture, blend, mingling, combination, compound, fusion, composition, concoction, brew, alloy, merger, union, amalgamation, amalgam, coalition, cross, hybrid;
medley, melange, diversity, collection, selection, assortment, variety, mixed bag, miscellany, assemblage, motley collection, pot-pourri, conglomeration, jumble, mess, confusion, mishmash, hotchpotch, hodgepodge, ragbag, pastiche, patchwork, farrago, hash
informal scissors-and-paste job, mash-up
rare gallimaufry, omnium gatherum, olio, salmagundi, macédoine
1.1A group of people of different types within a particular society or community: the school has a good social mix...
- The club's ethos of social inclusion and integration is reflected in the eclectic mix of nationalities represented within the team.
- Urban renewal programs in the 1950s were actually based on the presumption that social mix could make communities more stable.
- This raises important questions for policy makers: should the ethnic mix of intake to medical schools broadly reflect the ethnic mix of the community from which students are drawn?
1.2The proportion of different people or other constituents that make up a mixture: arriving at the correct mix of full-time to part-time staff trousers made from a cotton and polyester mix...
- A change in the customer mix, with the proportion of Chinese patronage increasing, is also anticipated.
- And I guess progress has been made when a leading Tory feels he should announce that he will make appointments in proportion to the ethnic mix of London.
- Although the complex has only been open for a couple of months both men are happy they have managed to get the mix of activities correct.
2 [often with modifier] A commercially prepared mixture of ingredients for making a particular type of food or a product such as concrete: cake mixes have made cooking easier...
- But on reading the ingredients of a cake mix, I realise now I would never want to.
- Not that the business is entirely against the use of mixes and other prepared ingredients.
- The book assumes that most birthday cake makers will use a commercial cake mix.
3 [often with modifier] A version of a recording in which the component tracks are mixed in a different way from the original: a dance mix version of ‘This Charming Man’...
- These are two very different audio mixes (the older track fast and furious, the new one with a deliberate, pained vocal and wailing guitar).
- This release sees the addition, not only of the rare mono mix but the tracks recorded for her first solo outing, with the band backing her.
- Stuffed to the gills with demos, home-recordings, live versions and unusual mixes, you'll find all of your favourites here, but often in wildly different guises.
3.1A continuous piece of music, typically dance music, produced by combining a number of separate recordings: a group of young women groove in a circle to a DJ mix of Missy Elliot, the Young Gunz, and Kelis...
- He sang along to a DJ mix of Michael Jackson, Congolese collective Konono #1 and a nasty, slowed-down version of David Bowie's Fame.
- I listen to club mixes, electronic music etc.
- Mr. Cohen attempts a grand reawakening with help from Fedde Le Grand, a Dutch D.J. and producer whose deep house mixes have punchy finesse.
3.2An image or sound produced by the combination of two separate images or sounds: titling mixes are added when vision and sound are still on separate film...
- Otherwise, all three of these sound mixes are identical to one another.
- Accompanying James' unorthodox choreography is a stream of video images and an audio mix that includes a sitcom laugh track, a bingo caller and barnyard animals.
Phrases
be (or get) mixed up in
be (or get) mixed up with
mix and match
mix one's drinks
Phrasal verbs
mix something up
Derivatives
mixable
- It's more approachable than Scotch, and more mixable.
- Poorly marketed, and very expensive, it was originally only available as a mixable kit packaged in a too large cylinder.
- People wanted a mixable drink - specifically, one that was red and sweet.
Origin
Late Middle English: back-formation from mixed (taken as a past participle).
mash from Old English:
Brewing provides the earliest context of mash. The mash is a mixture of ground malt and hot water which is left to stand to form the infusion called ‘wort’. The first example of mash meaning ‘mashed potatoes’ is from 1904, by the British MP and novelist A. E. W. Mason: ‘I…go into a public-house…and have a sausage and mash and a pot of beer.’ The word may ultimately be related to mix. This is from Latin mixtus which became mixte in Old French. This was heard by English speakers as ‘mixed’ and a new verb, to mix, was formed. As an abbreviation for ‘mobile army surgical hospital’ MASH goes back to 1950. The term was made famous in the 1970 film M*A*S*H, set in a field hospital during the Korean War. The film gave rise to a long-running TV series (1972–83).