First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1mangle
verb man·gle \ˈmaŋ-gəl\
man·gledman·gling \-g(ə-)liŋ\
Definition of MANGLE
transitive verb
1
: to injure with deep disfiguring wounds by cutting, tearing, or crushing <people … mangled by sharks — V. G. Heiser>
2
: to spoil, injure, or make incoherent especially through ineptitude <a story mangled beyond recognition>
— man·gler \-g(ə-)lər\ noun
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Origin of MANGLE
Middle English, from Anglo-French mangler, mahangler, perhaps from mahaigner to maim — more at mayhem
Synonym Discussion of MANGLE
maim, cripple, mutilate, batter, mangle mean to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage. maim implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence <maimed by a shark>. cripple implies the loss or serious impairment of an arm or leg <crippled for life in an accident>. mutilate implies the cutting off or removal of an essential part of a person or thing thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function <a tree mutilated by inept pruning>. batter implies a series of blows that bruise deeply, deform, or mutilate <an old ship battered by fierce storms>. mangle implies a tearing or crushing that leaves deep wounds <a soldier's leg mangled by shrapnel>.
2mangle
noun
: an old-fashioned machine used to squeeze water out of wet clothes after they have been washed
Full Definition of MANGLE
: a machine for ironing laundry by passing it between heated rollers
See mangle defined for English-language learners
Origin of MANGLE
Dutch mangel, from German, from Middle High German, diminutive of mange mangonel, mangle, from Latin manganum
First Known Use: 1696
3mangle
verb
man·gledman·gling \-g(ə-)liŋ\
Definition of MANGLE
transitive verb
: to press or smooth (as damp linen) with a mangle
— man·gler \-g(ə-)lər\ noun
First Known Use of MANGLE
circa 1775
MANGLED Defined for Kids
mangle
verb man·gle \ˈmaŋ-gəl\
man·gledman·gling
Definition of MANGLE for Kids
1
: to injure badly by cutting, tearing, or crushing
2
: to spoil while making or performing <If she's nervous, she'll mangle the speech.>
Learn More About MANGLE
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