noun B1 Intermediate Common

MUD

muhd

MUD (noun) means a soft, wet mixture of soil and water. Example: “The kids were covered in mud after playing in the yard.”

noun

A soft, wet mixture of soil and water.

"The kids were covered in mud after playing in the yard."

"Our boots got stuck in the mud on the trail."

Harsh, damaging accusations meant to smear someone's reputation.

"The rival campaigns spent the debate slinging mud at each other."

"None of the mud thrown at her seemed to stick."

verb

To cover or dirty something with mud.

"The truck mudded the whole driveway after the storm."

"Don't mud up the carpet with those boots."

How to use MUD

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWet dirt — or, figuratively, unfair insults thrown to damage someone's reputation.

Common mistake

"Sling mud" means to make damaging accusations, not literally throwing dirt.

Common pairings

sling mud stuck in the mud mud on your face

Word forms

mudded past tense, mudded past tense, muds plural, muds plural, mudden plural, muds singular, muds singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The kids were covered in _____ after playing in the yard.

Etymology

Traced back through Middle English mudde, likely related to a Middle Dutch word for mud, and further back to a Proto-Germanic root.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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mire muck sludge ooze slime silt Dutch bushel bushel muid

Related words

money dirt leak heroin marsh bleed sewage diminish

Frequently asked questions

What does “MUD” mean?

The word “MUD” means a soft, wet mixture of soil and water. In plain terms, wet dirt — or, figuratively, unfair insults thrown to damage someone's reputation.

How do you pronounce “MUD”?

“MUD” is pronounced muhd (/mʌd/ in IPA).

How do you use “MUD” in a sentence?

Here is “MUD” used in a sentence: “The kids were covered in mud after playing in the yard.”

What is another word for “MUD”?

Words with a similar meaning to “MUD” include Dutch bushel, bushel and muid.

What part of speech is “MUD”?

Depending on how it is used, “MUD” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “MUD” come from?

The word “MUD” comes from Middle English. Traced back through Middle English mudde, likely related to a Middle Dutch word for mud, and further back to a Proto-Germanic root.

Is “MUD” a common word?

“MUD” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “MUD” have?

“MUD” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, wet mixture of soil and water.

What is the difference between "mud" and "dirt"?

"Mud" is specifically a soft, wet mixture of soil and water, so wetness is essential to it. "Dirt" is a broader term for soil or grime and can be completely dry, whereas mud is always wet.

What is the difference between "mud" and "mire"?

Both refer to wet, muddy ground, but "mire" suggests an area deep or swampy enough to trap or sink into, while "mud" is the wet soil itself. "Mire" is also used figuratively for a difficult situation you are stuck in.

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Vocabulary lists that include MUD:

3 letter words Words that start with M

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