mix

¹

[ miks ]

verb (used with object)

, mixed or (Archaic) mixt, mix·ing.

1. to combine (substances, elements, things, etc.) into one mass, collection, or assemblage, generally with a thorough blending of the constituents.

   Synonyms: fuse, amalgamate, unite, jumble, commingle

2. to put together indiscriminately or confusedly (often followed by up ).
3. to combine, unite, or join:

   to mix business and pleasure.

4. to add as an element or ingredient:

   Mix some salt into the flour.

5. to form or make by combining ingredients: to mix mortar.

   to mix a cake;

   to mix mortar.

6. to crossbreed.
7. Movies.
   1. to combine, blend, edit, etc. (the various components of a soundtrack):

      to mix dialogue and sound effects.

   2. to complete the mixing process on (a film, soundtrack, etc.):

      an important movie that took months to mix.

8. to combine (two or more separate recordings or microphone signals) to make a single recording or composite signal.

verb (used without object)

, mixed or (Archaic) mixt, mix·ing.

1. to become mixed:

   a paint that mixes easily with water.

   Synonyms: coalesce, fuse, amalgamate, unite, jumble, commingle

2. to associate or mingle, as in company:

   to mix with the other guests at a party.

3. to be crossbred, or of mixed breeding.
4. Boxing. to exchange blows vigorously and aggressively:

   The crowd jeered as the fighters clinched, refusing to mix.

noun

1. an act or instance of mixing.
2. the result of mixing; mixture:

   cement mix;

   an odd mix of gaiety and sadness.

   Synonyms: formula, concoction

3. a commercially prepared blend of ingredients to which usually only a liquid must be added to make up the total of ingredients necessary or obtain the desired consistency: muffin mix.

   a cake mix;

   muffin mix.

4. Music. music or songs selected and recorded as a mixtape: a mix of Christmas songs;

   the ultimate one-hour workout mix;

   a mix of Christmas songs;

   a DJ mix.

5. mixer ( def 4 ).
6. the proportion of ingredients in a mixture; formula:

   a mix of two to one.

7. Informal. a mess or muddle; mix-up.
8. Music. an electronic blending of tracks or sounds made to produce a recording.

verb phrase

1. 1. to confuse completely, especially to mistake one person or thing for another:

      The teacher was always mixing up the twins.

   2. to involve or entangle.
2. to mix the tracks of an existing recording to make a new recording with fewer tracks:

   The various instrumental and vocal tracks were mixed down to stereo in the studio.

Mix

²

[ miks ]

noun

1. Thomas Edwin Tom, 1880–1940, U.S. film actor in westerns.

mix

/ mɪks /

verb

1. tr to combine or blend (ingredients, liquids, objects, etc) together into one mass
2. intr to become or have the capacity to become combined, joined, etc

   some chemicals do not mix

3. tr to form (something) by combining two or more constituents

   to mix cement

4. tr; often foll by in or into to add as an additional part or element (to a mass or compound)

   to mix flour into a batter

5. tr to do at the same time; combine

   to mix study and pleasure

6. tr to consume (drinks or foods) in close succession
7. to come or cause to come into association socially

   Pauline has never mixed well

8. introften foll bywith to go together; complement
9. tr to crossbreed (differing strains of plants or breeds of livestock), esp more or less at random
10. tr electronics to combine (two or more signals)
11. music
    1. (in sound recording) to balance and adjust (the recorded tracks) on a multitrack tape machine
    2. (in live performance) to balance and adjust (the output levels from microphones and pick-ups)
12. tr to merge (two lengths of film) so that the effect is imperceptible
13. mix it informal.
    1. to cause mischief or trouble, often for a person named

       she tried to mix it for John

    2. to fight

noun

1. the act or an instance of mixing
2. the result of mixing; mixture
3. a mixture of ingredients, esp one commercially prepared for making a cake, bread, etc
4. music the sound obtained by mixing
5. building trades civil engineering the proportions of cement, sand, and aggregate in mortar, plaster, or concrete
6. informal.
   a state of confusion, bewilderment

Derived Forms

• ˈmixable, adjective
• ˌmixaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• mixa·ble adjective
• mixa·bili·ty mixa·ble·ness noun
• over·mix verb
• un·mix verb (used with object)
• un·mixa·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mix¹

First recorded in 1470–80; back formation from mixt; mixed ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of mix¹

C15: back formation from mixt mixed, via Old French from Latin mixtus, from miscēre to mix

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. mix it up, Slang. Also mix it.
   1. to engage in a quarrel.
   2. to fight with the fists.

Synonym Study

Mix, blend, combine, mingle concern the bringing of two or more things into more or less intimate association. Mix is the general word for such association: to mix fruit juices. Blend implies such a harmonious joining of two or more types of colors, feelings, etc., that the new product formed displays some of the qualities of each: to blend fragrances or whiskeys. Combine implies such a close or intimate union that distinction between the parts is lost: to combine forces. Mingle usually suggests retained identity of the parts: to mingle voices.

Related Words

• associate
• blend
• fuse
• incorporate
• infuse
• mingle
• stir
• weave