Definition of 'mist'

Word Frequency

mist

(mɪst )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense mists , present participle misting , past tense, past participle misted

1. variable noun

Mist consists of a large number of tiny drops of water in the air, which make it difficult to see very far.

Thick mist made flying impossible.

A bluish mist hung in the air.

Mists and fog swirled about the road.

Synonyms: fog, cloud, steam, spray More Synonyms of mist

2. verb

If a piece of glass mists or is misted, it becomes covered with tiny drops of moisture, so that you cannot see through it easily.

The windows misted, blurring the stark streetlight. [VERB]

The temperature in the car was misting the window. [VERB noun]

Mist over and mist up mean the same as mist.

The front windshield was misting over. [VERB PARTICLE]

She stood in front of the misted-up mirror. [VERB-ed PARTICLE]

3. verb

If someone's eyes mist, they cannot see easily because there are tears in their eyes.

Her eyes misted with tears. [VERB]

Mist over means the same as mist.

His eyes misted over and he started to shake. [VERB PARTICLE]

Phrasal verbs:

See mist over

See mist up

Image of
mist

Video: pronunciation of
mist

mist in British English

(mɪst )

noun

a thin fog resulting from condensation in the air near the earth's surface

2. meteorology

such an atmospheric condition with a horizontal visibility of 1–2 kilometres

a fine spray of any liquid, such as that produced by an aerosol container

4. chemistry

a colloidal suspension of a liquid in a gas

condensed water vapour on a surface that blurs the surface

something that causes haziness or lack of clarity, such as a film of tears

verb

to cover or be covered with or as if with mist

Word origin

Old English; related to Middle Dutch, Swedish mist, Greek omikhlē fog

Word Frequency

mist in American English

(mɪst )

noun

a large mass of water vapor at or just above the earth's surface resembling a fog, but less dense

a thin film of moisture condensed on a surface in droplets

a cloud of dust, smoke, gas, etc.

a fine spray, as of medication or perfume

a cloudiness or film before the eyes, dimming or blurring the vision

through a mist of tears

anything that dims or obscures the understanding, memory, etc.

verb transitive

to make misty; dim or obscure as with a mist

to spray the leaves of (a house plant) with water from a mister

verb intransitive

to be or become misty

SYNONYMY NOTE: mist applies to a visible atmospheric vapor of rather fine density, that blurs the vision; , haze1 suggests a thin dispersion of smoke, dust, etc. that makes objects indistinct; , fog1 suggests a greater density of moisture particles than , mist, sometimes suggesting a thickness impenetrable by the vision; , smog is applied to a mixture of fog and smoke of a kind that sometimes appears in industrial centers. The first three terms are also used figuratively [lost in the mists of the past, a troublesome haze of confusion, in a fog of doubt]

Word origin

ME < OE, darkness, mist, akin to ON mistr, dark weather < IE base *meigh-, to blink, be dim > Sans *mēghá-, cloud

Word Frequency

mist. in American English

abbreviation

(in prescriptions)

a mixture

Word origin

[‹ L mistūra]

Examples of 'mist' in a sentence
mist

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The next few days should be mainly dry, with mist and fog in the morning.As light creeps through, mist descends.Some rarely lose their temper but when they do, the red mist descends and anything can happen.But he rejected suggestions that his red card was down to a lack of discipline or the red mist and blamed it on bad technique.The red mist had descended.It is what you and I would call the red mist.It's instant red mist and you can't help but be affected by it.High pressure is expected to return to southern regions, where calm conditions could bring the return of mist, fog and frost.Nature notes Birds still move about in the mist and fog if these are not too dense, and one can sometimes hear an invisible bird.Back in the mists of time, power dressing was a thing for women who had to appear more masculine to be taken seriously, like stealth camouflage.