mix
♦♦ mix /m'ɪks/ (mixes mixing mixed)
1 [V-RECIP] pl-n V, V with n, V pl-n, V n with n, V n with adv
If two substances mix or if you mix one substance with another, you stir or shake them together, or combine them in some other way, so that they become a single substance.
Oil and water don't mix...
It mixes easily with cold or hot water to make a tasty, filling drink...
A quick stir will mix them thoroughly...
Mix the cinnamon with the rest of the sugar...
Mix the ingredients together slowly.
● mixing [N-UNCOUNT]
This final part of the mixing is done slowly and delicately.
2 [VERB] V n, V n n
If you mix something, you prepare it by mixing other things together.
He had spent several hours mixing cement...
Are you sure I can't mix you a drink?
3 [N-VAR] usu supp N
A mix is a powder containing all the substances that you need in order to make something such as a cake or a sauce. When you want to use it, you add liquid.
For speed we used packets of pizza dough mix...
4 [N-COUNT] usu sing, with supp
A mix of different things or people is two or more of them together.
The story is a magical mix of fantasy and reality...
We get a very representative mix of people.
5 [V-RECIP] usu with brd-neg, pl-n V, V with n, V n with n, V pl-n
If two things or activities do not mix or if one thing does not mix with another, it is not a good idea to have them or do them together, because the result would be unpleasant or dangerous.
Politics and sport don't mix.
...some of these pills that don't mix with drink...
Ted managed to mix business with pleasure...
The military has accused the clergy of mixing religion and politics.
6 [V-RECIP] V with n, pl-n V, V (non-recip)
If you mix with other people, you meet them and talk to them. You can also say that people mix.
I ventured the idea that the secret of staying young was to mix with older people...
People are supposed to mix, do you understand?...
When you came away you made a definite effort to mix.
= socialize
7 [VERB] V n
When a record producer mixes a piece of music, he or she puts together the various sounds that have been recorded in order to make the finished record.
They've been mixing tracks for a new album due out later this year.
● mixing [N-UNCOUNT]
Final mixing should be completed by the end of this week.
8
to mix your metaphors: see metaphor
see also mixed, cake mixcake mix (cake mixes)
[N-VAR]
Cake mix is a powder that you mix with eggs and water or milk to make a cake. You bake the mixture in the oven.mar|ket|ing mix
[N-SING]
A company's marketing mix is the combination of marketing activities it uses in order to promote a particular product or service. (BUSINESS)
The key focus of the marketing mix will be on price and distribution.mix up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P with n, V P pl-n (not pron), V pl-n P
If you mix up two things or people, you confuse them, so that you think that one of them is the other one.
People often mix me up with other actors...
Depressed people may mix up their words...
Any time you told one of them something, they'd swear you'd mixed them up and told the other.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P pl-n (not pron), V pl-n P, V n P with n
If you mix up a number of things, you put things of different kinds together or place things so that they are not in order.
I like to mix up designer clothes...
Part of the plan was that the town should not fall into office, industrial and residential zones, but mix the three up together...
This is music from a different era. I've taken those sounds from childhood and mixed them up with other things.
3
see also mixed up, mix-uppick 'n' mix
also pick and mix
[ADJ] ADJ n
Pick 'n' mix is used to describe a way of getting a collection of things together by choosing a number of different ones. (BRIT)
It is, as some senior officials conceded, a pick 'n' mix approach to policy.
...a pick-and-mix selection of fabrics and wallpapers.
1 [V-RECIP] pl-n V, V with n, V pl-n, V n with n, V n with adv
If two substances mix or if you mix one substance with another, you stir or shake them together, or combine them in some other way, so that they become a single substance.
Oil and water don't mix...
It mixes easily with cold or hot water to make a tasty, filling drink...
A quick stir will mix them thoroughly...
Mix the cinnamon with the rest of the sugar...
Mix the ingredients together slowly.
● mixing [N-UNCOUNT]
This final part of the mixing is done slowly and delicately.
2 [VERB] V n, V n n
If you mix something, you prepare it by mixing other things together.
He had spent several hours mixing cement...
Are you sure I can't mix you a drink?
3 [N-VAR] usu supp N
A mix is a powder containing all the substances that you need in order to make something such as a cake or a sauce. When you want to use it, you add liquid.
For speed we used packets of pizza dough mix...
4 [N-COUNT] usu sing, with supp
A mix of different things or people is two or more of them together.
The story is a magical mix of fantasy and reality...
We get a very representative mix of people.
5 [V-RECIP] usu with brd-neg, pl-n V, V with n, V n with n, V pl-n
If two things or activities do not mix or if one thing does not mix with another, it is not a good idea to have them or do them together, because the result would be unpleasant or dangerous.
Politics and sport don't mix.
...some of these pills that don't mix with drink...
Ted managed to mix business with pleasure...
The military has accused the clergy of mixing religion and politics.
6 [V-RECIP] V with n, pl-n V, V (non-recip)
If you mix with other people, you meet them and talk to them. You can also say that people mix.
I ventured the idea that the secret of staying young was to mix with older people...
People are supposed to mix, do you understand?...
When you came away you made a definite effort to mix.
= socialize
7 [VERB] V n
When a record producer mixes a piece of music, he or she puts together the various sounds that have been recorded in order to make the finished record.
They've been mixing tracks for a new album due out later this year.
● mixing [N-UNCOUNT]
Final mixing should be completed by the end of this week.
8
to mix your metaphors: see metaphor
see also mixed, cake mixcake mix (cake mixes)
[N-VAR]
Cake mix is a powder that you mix with eggs and water or milk to make a cake. You bake the mixture in the oven.mar|ket|ing mix
[N-SING]
A company's marketing mix is the combination of marketing activities it uses in order to promote a particular product or service. (BUSINESS)
The key focus of the marketing mix will be on price and distribution.mix up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P with n, V P pl-n (not pron), V pl-n P
If you mix up two things or people, you confuse them, so that you think that one of them is the other one.
People often mix me up with other actors...
Depressed people may mix up their words...
Any time you told one of them something, they'd swear you'd mixed them up and told the other.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P pl-n (not pron), V pl-n P, V n P with n
If you mix up a number of things, you put things of different kinds together or place things so that they are not in order.
I like to mix up designer clothes...
Part of the plan was that the town should not fall into office, industrial and residential zones, but mix the three up together...
This is music from a different era. I've taken those sounds from childhood and mixed them up with other things.
3
see also mixed up, mix-uppick 'n' mix
also pick and mix
[ADJ] ADJ n
Pick 'n' mix is used to describe a way of getting a collection of things together by choosing a number of different ones. (BRIT)
It is, as some senior officials conceded, a pick 'n' mix approach to policy.
...a pick-and-mix selection of fabrics and wallpapers.