amassar
pt
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knead, mash, mix, crumple, wrinkle
/ɐ.maˈsaɾ/
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To work dough or soft mixtures by hand, to crush or crumple objects like paper or metal, or informally to defeat an opponent completely.
Examples
O corredor amassou a recorde mundial.
The runner smashed the world record.
Eles amassaram os rivais no debate.
They destroyed the rivals in the debate.
Essa fábrica não amassa bem as caixas de papelão.
This factory does not crush the cardboard boxes well.
A avó amassa a massa de pastel com carinho.
Grandmother kneads the pastry dough with care.
Ajude-me a amassar este barro.
Help me knead this clay.
Similar words
modelar
amarrotar
vincar
golear
humilhar
esmagar
dominar
destruir
rugar
esmagar
Meanings
Usage
Use amassar when referring to making bread, pizza dough, or mashing soft foods like potatoes or beans.
Examples
Ela amassa o pão todas as manhãs.
She kneads the bread every morning.
Vou amassar as batatas para o purê.
I am going to mash the potatoes for the puree.
É preciso amassar bem a farinha e a água.
You need to knead the flour and water well.
Ele amassou a carne moída com as mãos.
He kneaded the ground meat with his hands.
Não amasse o feijão, deixe os grãos inteiros.
Do not mash the beans, leave the grains whole.
A avó amassa a massa de pastel com carinho.
Grandmother kneads the pastry dough with care.
Ajude-me a amassar este barro.
Help me knead this clay.
Common mistakes
Confusing amassar with assar (to roast) or using it with liquids.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Vou assar a massa para o pão.
| Vou amassar a massa para o pão.
|
| Ela amassa o café com açúcar.
| Ela mistura o café com açúcar.
|
| Amasse o bolo no forno por trinta minutos.
| Asse o bolo no forno por trinta minutos.
|
Similar words
sovar
malaxar
pilar
triturar
esmagar
misturar
modelar
Usage
Use amassar for objects that lose their shape, like a sheet of paper, a piece of clothing, or a car body panel.
Examples
Minha camisa está toda amassada.
My shirt is all wrinkled.
Ele amassou o papel e jogou no lixo.
He crumpled the paper and threw it in the trash.
Cuidado para não amassar o carro na garagem.
Be careful not to dent the car in the garage.
Não amasse as folhas do livro.
Do not crumple the pages of the book.
A lataria ficou amassada após a batida.
The bodywork was dented after the crash.
Ela amassou a carta com raiva.
She crumpled the letter in anger.
Essa fábrica não amassa bem as caixas de papelão.
This factory does not crush the cardboard boxes well.
Common mistakes
Using amassar for tearing or cutting instead of wrinkling.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Ele amassou o papel em dois pedaços.
| Ele rasgou o papel em dois pedaços.
|
| Não amasse a camisa, passe-a.
| Não amarrote a camisa, passe-a.
|
| A porta foi amassada pelo vento forte.
| A porta foi batida pelo vento forte.
|
Similar words
amarrotar
rugar
enrugar
vincar
amolgar
esmagar
deteriorar
Usage
Use amassar in informal contexts like sports, video games, or competitions to describe a landslide victory.
Examples
Nós amassamos o time adversário hoje.
We crushed the opposing team today.
Ele amassa todo mundo nesse videogame.
He beats everyone at this video game.
O Brasil vai amassar a Argentina?
Is Brazil going to crush Argentina?
Ela amassou na competição de natação.
She dominated the swimming competition.
Vou te amassar nesse jogo de xadrez.
I am going to destroy you in this chess game.
O corredor amassou a recorde mundial.
The runner smashed the world record.
Eles amassaram os rivais no debate.
They destroyed the rivals in the debate.
Common mistakes
Using this slang sense in formal writing or confusing it with physical kneading.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| O time amassou o adversário no relatório oficial.
| O time venceu o adversário no relatório oficial.
|
| Vou amassar o bolo para a festa.
| Vou fazer o bolo para a festa.
|
| Ela amassa a prova de matemática com estudo.
| Ela vai bem na prova de matemática com estudo.
|
Similar words
destruir
dominar
esmagar
golear
humilhar
vencer
desempenhar
Usage
Choose the physical sense for cooking or deforming objects, and the slang sense only in informal contexts involving competition or performance.
Common mistakes
Confusing amassar with assar (to roast) is a frequent error, as is using the slang sense in formal communication.
Etymology
From Vulgar Latin massare, derived from Latin massa meaning 'mass, dough, lump', related to Greek maza (barley cake).
FAQ
Amassar primarily means to knead dough or mix soft substances, but it also means to crumple or dent objects, and informally, to dominate an opponent.
How do you use amassar in cooking?
In cooking, amassar refers to working dough with your hands to make bread or pizza, or mashing ingredients like potatoes.
Can amassar mean to wrinkle clothes?
Yes, amassar is commonly used to say that clothes are wrinkled or crumpled, such as 'minha camisa está amassada'.
What is the slang meaning of amassar?
In slang, amassar means to defeat someone decisively, to dominate a game, or to perform exceptionally well.
Is amassar a regular verb?
Yes, amassar is a regular verb ending in -ar, following the standard conjugation pattern for first conjugation verbs.
What is the difference between amassar and assar?
Amassar means to knead or crush, while assar means to roast or bake in an oven; they sound similar but have different meanings.
How do you say 'to knead' in Portuguese?
The verb 'to knead' translates to amassar in Portuguese, specifically when working dough or clay.
How do you say 'to crumple' in Portuguese?
The verb 'to crumple' is also amassar in Portuguese, often used for paper or thin metal.
What is the past participle of amassar?
The past participle of amassar is amassado, used in compound tenses like 'tenho amassado'.
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