amassar

Senses

1. 1.

   to knead

   to press and work dough or soft material with the hands

2. 2.

   to crush, to crumple

   to press or squeeze something causing it to become wrinkled or deformed

3. 3.

   to mash

   to crush food (like potatoes or bananas) into a soft mass

4. 4.

   to dent

   to damage a metal surface by making a hollow or depression in it

Examples

• "Ela amassou a massa do pão por dez minutos."

  She kneaded the bread dough for ten minutes.

• "O acidente amassou toda a lateral do carro."

  The accident dented the entire side of the car.

• "Vou amassar as bananas para fazer o bolo."

  I'm going to mash the bananas to make the cake.

Usage

Common in everyday Brazilian Portuguese across all registers. Frequently used with foods (amassar batatas, amassar bananas), dough (amassar massa), paper (amassar papel), and vehicles (amassar o carro). The reflexive form "amassar-se" is rarely used.