mix

mix¹ W3S2 [mıks] v

[Date: 1400-1500; Origin: mixte 'mixed' (13-17 centuries), from Latin mixtus, past participle of miscere 'to mix']

1.) [I and T]

if you mix two or more substances or if they mix, they combine to become a single substance, and they cannot be easily separated

▪ Oil and water don't mix.

mix (sth) with sth

▪ Shake the bottle well so that the oil mixes with the vinegar.

▪ The powder is mixed with cold water to form a paste.

▪ Mix the soured cream with ketchup and tomatoes.

mix sth together

▪ First mix the butter and sugar together, then add the milk.

mix sth in

▪ Mix in 75g of butter.

mix sth into sth

▪ Mix the herbs into the sauce.

2.) [T]

to combine two or more different activities, ideas, groups of things etc

▪ Their musical style mixes elements of Eastern culture and Western pop.

mix sth with sth

▪ His books mix historical fact with fantasy.

▪ I don't like to mix business with pleasure (=combine business and social activities at the same time) .

3.)

to meet, talk, and spend time with other people, especially people you do not know very well

= ↑socialize mix with

▪ Charlie doesn't mix well with the other children.

4.) not mix

if two different ideas, activities etc do not mix, there are problems when they are combined

▪ Smoking and babies don't mix.

5.) [T] [i]also mix up

to prepare something, especially food or drink, by mixing things together

▪ Will you mix us some martinis, Bill?

6.) mix and match

to choose to put different things together from a range of possibilities

▪ They can mix and match their uniform, wearing either a sweatshirt or blouse with trousers or a skirt.

7.) [T] technical

to control the balance of sounds in a record or film

8.) mix it (up) informal to get involved in a fight with someone

▪ You don't want to mix it with him. He's been drinking since noon.

mix up [mix sb/sth<=>up] phr v

1.) to make the mistake of thinking that someone or something is another person or thing

= ↑confuse, muddle up ↑muddle up mix somebody/something<=>up with

▪ I always mix him up with his brother. They look so much alike.

▪ I think you might be mixing up Wetherall and Newton.

▪ I must have got the times mixed up .

2.) to change the way things have been arranged, often by mistake, so that they are no longer in the same order

▪ My papers got all mixed up .

▪ Books on Scottish history were mixed up with books on volcanoes.

3.) to make someone feel confused

▪ They kept trying to mix me up.

4.) to prepare something by mixing things together

▪ It was hard work mixing up four tonnes of cement.

→↑mixed up, ↑mix-up

mix ²

mix² n

1.) [singular]

the particular combination of things or people in a group or thing

mix of

▪ a good mix of people

▪ We felt that between us we had the right mix of skills.

▪ a complicated mix of colours and textures

▪ the region's rich ethnic mix (=people of different races)

2.) [U and C]

a combination of substances that you mix together to make something such as a cake

= ↑mixture

cake/soup etc mix

▪ Add water to the cake mix and bake at 375°F.

3.)

a particular arrangement of sounds, voices, or different pieces of music used on a ↑pop record

▪ the dance mix