mess

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) a thing or group of things in a disagreeable, disorganised, or dirty state; hence a bad situation
2. (colloquial, countable, uncountable) a large quantity or number
3. (countable, euphemistic, uncountable) excrement.
4. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) a person in a state of (especially emotional) turmoil or disarray; an emotional wreck

Verb

1. (often, transitive) To make untidy or dirty.
2. (often, transitive) To make untidy or dirty.
3. (often, transitive) To throw into disorder or to ruin.
4. (intransitive) To interfere.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To take meals with a mess.
2. (intransitive) To belong to a mess.
3. (intransitive) To eat (with others).
4. (transitive) To supply with a mess.

Synonyms

disorder

muddle

confusion

chaos

jumble

disarray

muss

tangle

junk

turmoil

clutter

gruel

shambles

mush

messiness

mix-up

lot

raft

muck

mix up

bedlam

wad

disorganization

mess hall

batch

mess up

dishevel

sight

heap

mountain

⛰️

mass

stack

great deal

deal

pickle

pile

fix

good deal

filth

hatful

farrago

mussiness

pot

mint

muckle

confuse

disrupt

commotion

meals

mickle

Translations

confusione

Durcheinander

disordine

desorden

désordre

lío

gâchis

zootje

rotzooi

Unordnung

troep

zooi

confusion

fouillis

Pronounced as (IPA)

/mɛs/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: mes

Inherited from Old English: mēse

In summary

Perhaps a corruption of Middle English mesh (“mash”), compare muss, or derived from Etymology 2 "mixed foods, as for animals". Compare also Old English mes (“dung, excrement”).