MASK | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

mid 16th century: from French masque, from Italian maschera, mascara, probably from medieval Latin masca ‘witch, spectre’, but influenced by Arabic masḵara ‘buffoon’

a covering for all or part of the face, worn as a disguise, or to amuse or frighten others.

facial covering

a covering worn over the mouth and nose in order to reduce the transmission of infectious agents, or to prevent the inhalation of pollutants and other harmful substances.

protective covering

a face pack

cosmetic

• this exfoliating mask helps clear your pores and leaves your skin feeling soft and healthy

a likeness of a person's face moulded or sculpted in clay or wax.

facial likeness

a manner or expression that hides one's true character or feelings

pretence

• I let my mask of respectability slip

a piece of material such as card used to cover a part of an image that is not required when exposing a print.

screen

a patterned metal film used in the manufacture of microcircuits to allow selective modification of the underlying material.

layer

the enlarged labium of a dragonfly larva, which can be extended to seize prey.

insect part

cover (the face) with a mask

cover the face

• he had been masked, bound, and abducted

conceal (something) from view

conceal

• the poplars masked a factory

cover (an object or surface) so as to protect it during painting

cover

• mask off doors and cupboards with sheets of plastic