Definition of dash

• v. t. - To throw with violence or haste; to cause to strike violently or hastily; -- often used with against.
• v. t. - To break, as by throwing or by collision; to shatter; to crust; to frustrate; to ruin.
• v. t. - To put to shame; to confound; to confuse; to abash; to depress.
• v. t. - To throw in or on in a rapid, careless manner; to mix, reduce, or adulterate, by throwing in something of an inferior quality; to overspread partially; to bespatter; to touch here and there; as, to dash wine with water; to dash paint upon a picture.
• v. t. - To form or sketch rapidly or carelessly; to execute rapidly, or with careless haste; -- with off; as, to dash off a review or sermon.
• v. t. - To erase by a stroke; to strike out; knock out; -- with out; as, to dash out a word.
• v. i. - To rust with violence; to move impetuously; to strike violently; as, the waves dash upon rocks.
• n. - Violent striking together of two bodies; collision; crash.
• n. - A sudden check; abashment; frustration; ruin; as, his hopes received a dash.
• n. - A slight admixture, infusion, or adulteration; a partial overspreading; as, wine with a dash of water; red with a dash of purple.
• n. - A rapid movement, esp. one of short duration; a quick stroke or blow; a sudden onset or rush; as, a bold dash at the enemy; a dash of rain.
• n. - Energy in style or action; animation; spirit.
• n. - A vain show; a blustering parade; a flourish; as, to make or cut a great dash.
• n. - A mark or line [--], in writing or printing, denoting a sudden break, stop, or transition in a sentence, or an abrupt change in its construction, a long or significant pause, or an unexpected or epigrammatic turn of sentiment. Dashes are also sometimes used instead of marks or parenthesis.
• n. - The sign of staccato, a small mark [/] denoting that the note over which it is placed is to be performed in a short, distinct manner.
• n. - The line drawn through a figure in the thorough bass, as a direction to raise the interval a semitone.
• n. - A short, spirited effort or trial of speed upon a race course; -- used in horse racing, when a single trial constitutes the race.