mop Hear it!

mop¹ Definition

mop (mäp)

noun

  1. a bundle of loose rags or yarns, a sponge, etc. fastened to the end of a stick, as for washing or wiping floors
  2. anything suggestive of this, as a thick head of hair

Etymology: Early ModE mappe, naut. term < ? Walloon mappe < L mappa, napkin: see map

transitive verb mopped, mop·ping

to wash, rub, wipe, or remove with or as with a mop: often with up

mop¹ Related Forms

mop·per noun

mop¹ Idioms

mop up

  1. Informal
    1. to bring to an end; finish
    2. to defeat completely
  2. Mil. to clear out or round up isolated or scattered remnants of beaten enemy forces from (a town, battle area, etc.)
  3. to finish a task

mop (up) the floor with

Slang to defeat decisively

mop² Definition

mop (mäp)

noun, intransitive verb mopped, mop·ping

Archaic grimace

Etymology: < or akin to MDu moppen, MHG muffen, to grimace: for base see mope

mop Synonyms

mop

n.

swab, duster, sweeper; see broom.

Types of mops include: oil, floor, dust, dish, rag, wet, dry, soldering, metalworker's polishing, surgical; gun swab, miner's swab stick.

mop Synonyms

mop

v.

swab, wipe, rub, scrub, dab, pat, polish, wash, dust, wipe up; see also clean.

mop Usage Examples

Object

  • bucket: He was lying ten feet from Bob Fassl's mop bucket.
  • floor: I think more famous musicians could stand to mop more floors.
  • head: It is a medium sized tree, with a nice mop head.
  • top: There are also early images by Astrid Kirchherr, the girlfriend of Stuart Sutcliffe who helped to style the band's mop tops.
  • blood: She simply walked up and down the floor silently, then picked up a cloth and mopped the blood from the floor.
  • system: Attach micro floor pad to mopping system i.e. hand mop.

Adjective modifier

blond: A blond mop flopped over his eyes and clumped against his forehead when the sweat stuck.

Modifies a noun

head: Tuesday, July 18th, 2006 How can I reuse or recycle... old mop heads?

Modifying Another Word

  • then: They clean the board and empty the rubbish bins, sweep the floor and then mop it.
  • up: It mops up sweat, whilst maintaining a lack of symmetry.
  • only: Apparently, it was only mopped up just in time for the opening night of ' Footloose - The Musical ' .

Followed by an intransitive particle

up: Let's just hope I'm not having to mop up too many tears!

Followed by a transitive particle

up: Serve with crusty bread to mop up the lovely sauce.

Particle object:

  • spillage: I believe I now hold the record for fastest mopped up spillage.
  • spill: Changing the diaper with a towel under the baby can help you to mop up spills quickly.
  • tail: With the heart ripped out of their innings, the stage was set for Joe Dutton and Matt Whitthread to mop up the tail.
  • radical: To fight free radicals our bodies have a complex system of large antioxidant enzymes to mop up these free radicals.
  • mess: In short it is an insult to all tax payers including fellow officers who are left to mop up the mess.
  • blood: Instead he had taken her into his kitchen and mopped up the blood and tears.

Noun used with modifier

Mrs: As soon as the Mrs Mop urge strikes we'll be giving it a try on one of the bikes from the RealClassic Shed.

Browse dictionary entries near mop

  1. moot court
  2. moot
  3. Moosehead Lake
  4. moosebird
  5. moose
  6. moory
  7. moorland
  8. Moorish
  9. mooring
  10. moorhen
  1. mop the floor or the earth (with)
  2. mop-up
  3. mopboard
  4. mope
  5. moped
  6. mopped
  7. moppet
  8. moquette
  9. mor
  10. mora