mask

n. & v.
—n.
1 a covering for all or part of the face: a worn as a disguise, or to appear grotesque and amuse or terrify. b made of wire, gauze, etc., and worn for protection (e.g. by a fencer) or by a surgeon to prevent infection of a patient. c worn to conceal the face at balls etc. and usu. made of velvet or silk.
2 a respirator used to filter inhaled air or to supply gas for inhalation.
3 a likeness of a person's face, esp. one made by taking a mould from the face (death-mask).
4 a disguise or pretence (throw off the mask).
5 a hollow model of a human head worn by ancient Greek and Roman actors.
6 Photog. a screen used to exclude part of an image.
7 the face or head of an animal, esp. a fox.
8 = face-pack.
9 archaic a masked person.
—v.tr.
1 cover (the face etc.) with a mask.
2 disguise or conceal (a taste, one's feelings, etc.).
3 protect from a process.
4 Mil. a conceal (a battery etc.) from the enemy's view. b hinder (an army etc.) from action by observing with adequate force. c hinder (a friendly force) by standing in its line of fire.
Phrases and idioms:
masking tape adhesive tape used in painting to cover areas on which paint is not wanted.
Derivatives:
masker n.
Etymology: F masque f. It. maschera f. Arab. maskara buffoon f. sakira to ridicule