mistake

 
Pronunciation: /mɪˈsteɪk/

noun

  • an act or judgement that is misguided or wrong: coming here was a mistake she made the mistake of thinking they were important
  • something, especially a word, figure, or fact, which is not correct; an inaccuracy: a couple of spelling mistakes

verb (past mistook /-ˈstʊk/; past participle mistaken /-ˈsteɪk(ə)n/)

[with object]
  • be wrong about: because I was inexperienced I mistook the nature of our relationship
  • (mistake someone/thing for) wrongly identify someone or something as: she thought he’d mistaken her for Diana

Phrases

and no mistake

informal without any doubt: it’s a bad business and no mistake

by mistake

accidentally; in error: she’d left her purse at home by mistake

make no mistake (about it)

informal do not be deceived into thinking otherwise: he’s passionate about football, make no mistake

there is no mistaking ——

it is impossible not to recognize someone or something: there’s no mistaking that voice there was no mistaking her sincerity

Derivatives

mistakable

(also mistakeable) adjective

mistakably

(also mistakeably) adverb

Origin:

late Middle English (as a verb): from Old Norse mistaka 'take in error', probably influenced in sense by Old French mesprendre