mesh

[ mesh ]

noun

1. any knit, woven, or knotted fabric of open texture.
2. an interwoven or intertwined structure; network.

   Synonyms: grid, screen, grill, netting, web

3. any arrangement of interlocking metal links or wires with evenly spaced, uniform small openings between, as used in jewelry or sieves.
4. one of the open spaces between the cords or ropes of a net.
5. meshes,
   1. the threads that bind such spaces.
   2. the means of catching or holding fast:

      to be caught in the meshes of the law.

6. Machinery. the engagement of gear teeth.
7. Electricity. a set of branches that forms a closed path in a network so that removal of a branch results in an open path.
8. Metallurgy. a designation of a given fineness of powder used in powder metallurgy in terms of the number of the finest screen through which almost all the particles will pass:

   This powder is 200 mesh.

verb (used with object)

1. to catch or entangle in or as if in a net; enmesh.
2. to form with meshes, as a net.
3. Machinery. to engage, as gear teeth.
4. to cause to match, coordinate, or interlock:

   They tried to mesh their vacation plans.

verb (used without object)

1. to become enmeshed.
2. Machinery. to become or be engaged, as the teeth of one gear with those of another.
3. to match, coordinate, or interlock:

   The two versions of the story don't mesh.

mesh

/ mɛʃ /

noun

1. a network; net
2. an open space between the strands of a network
3. often plural the strands surrounding these spaces
4. anything that ensnares, or holds like a net

   the mesh of the secret police

5. the engagement of teeth on interacting gearwheels

   the gears are in mesh

6. a measure of spacing of the strands of a mesh or grid, expressed as the distance between strands for coarse meshes or a number of strands per unit length for fine meshes

verb

1. to entangle or become entangled
2. (of gear teeth) to engage or cause to engage
3. introften foll bywith to coordinate (with)

   to mesh with a policy

4. to work or cause to work in harmony

Derived Forms

• ˈmeshy, adjective

Other Words From

• inter·mesh verb (used without object)
• mis·mesh verb
• un·mesh verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of mesh¹

1375–1425; late Middle English mesch, apparently continuing Old English masc, max; akin to Old High German māsca, Middle Dutch maesche

Word History and Origins

Origin of mesh¹

C16: probably from Dutch maesche; related to Old English masc, Old High German masca

Example Sentences

The dozen or so employees are all middle-aged or older and outfitted in red mesh fishing vests.

From Los Angeles Times

Songs from his 2024 “Luck and Strange LP” mesh seamlessly with older material, thanks in no small part to a stellar band that includes a trio of female singers/instrumentalists who made “The Great Gig in the Sky” heavenly, and the solid playing and energy of longtime bass player Guy Pratt.

From Los Angeles Times

I was standing in a containment cage, a contraption smaller than a telephone booth made of steel and mesh wire.

From Slate

Feces, urine, and other bodily fluids would fly through the containment cages’ mesh wire.

From Slate

Dried and fresh feces hung from the mesh wire of each cage.

From Slate