Mashed Potatoes: Meaning, Recipe & Usage

Meaning 1：mashed potatoes (mashed potatoes)

mashed potatoes 🔊

/mæʃt pəˈteɪtoʊz/

A soft food made by boiling potatoes and then crushing them, often with butter or milk added.

mashed potatoes 🔊

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/mæʃt pəˈteɪtoʊz/

A creamy, soft dish made by boiling potatoes and then mashing them, usually with butter, milk, or cream.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

"Mashed" (Old English *masc* 'crush') + "potatoes" (Spanish *patata*).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a potato getting squished into a fluffy cloud – that's mashed potatoes!

📖 Example

My little sister loves my mom's cooking so much that she always asks, "Can I have some more mashed potatoes?" during family dinners. 🔊 My little sister loves my mom's cooking so much that she always asks, "Can I have some more mashed potatoes?" during family dinners.

🔗 Collocations

mashed potatoes and gravy – a classic side dish pairing

creamy mashed potatoes – mashed potatoes with extra butter or cream

instant mashed potatoes – dehydrated potato flakes reconstituted with water

🔄 Synonyms

potato mash (n.) – another term for mashed potatoes, common in British English

mashed spuds (n.) – informal term for mashed potatoes (spuds = potatoes)

🚫 Antonyms

whole potatoes (n.) – potatoes that are not mashed, served in their natural shape

🌱 Derivatives

mash (n.) – a mixture of crushed ingredients, such as grain or potatoes

masher (n.) – a tool used for mashing food

📖 Cultural Story

Potatoes originated in the Andes. Mashed potatoes became a staple in 18th-century Britain, often served with gravy as a comfort food.