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I UK [dæʃ] / US verb
Word forms "dash":
present tense I/you/we/they dash he/she/it dashes present participle dashing past tense dashed past participle dashed

1) [intransitive] to run or go somewhere very quickly because you are in a hurry

dash into/out of/across etc:

I dashed out into the street, still in my pyjamas.

Maria came dashing down the stairs.

2)

a) [transitive] to throw or hit something very violently onto a surface, usually so that it breaks

dash something against/onto/to etc:

He picked up a glass and dashed it against the wall.

In a fit of rage James had dashed the priceless vase to the ground.

b) [intransitive] if water dashes against something, it hits it violently

dash against:

Huge waves dashed against the side of the boat.

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dash it (all) — informal old-fashioned used when you are annoyed about something

I must dash/I have to dash — spoken used for saying that you must leave quickly because you are in a hurry

- dash someone's hopes

Phrasal verbs:

- dash off

II UK [dæʃ] / US noun
Word forms "dash":
singular dash plural dashes

1) [singular] an act of running or going somewhere very quickly because you are in a hurry

make a dash for someone/something:

She made a sudden dash for the door.

make a dash for it (= run very quickly to escape or reach a place):

He looked at his guards and wondered whether he should make a dash for it.

a mad dash (= in an extremely fast uncontrolled way):

We had a mad dash around town in search of a present for Dad.

2)

a) [countable, usually singular] a small amount of a substance added to food or drink to give it a special flavour

dash of:

Add a dash of soy sauce for that authentic Chinese taste.

b) a small amount of an interesting or unusual quality that something contains or has added to it

dash of:

A dash of glamour was supplied by the presence of a couple of minor TV celebrities.

3) [countable] the symbol –, used in writing to separate different parts of a sentence

4) [countable] a long signal used for sending messages in morse code. Short signals are called dots.

5) [countable] informal the dashboard of a car

6) [uncountable] old-fashioned a combination of style, confidence, and energy

7) [countable] mainly American a short race in which people run as fast as they can

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See:

cut I