noun
Uncommon
mop
mop
Mop (noun) means a cleaning tool with a long handle and a bundle of absorbent strands, used for washing floors. Example: “She grabbed a mop to clean up the spilled juice.”
noun
1
A cleaning tool with a long handle and a bundle of absorbent strands, used for washing floors.
"She grabbed a mop to clean up the spilled juice."
2
A thick, untidy head of hair.
"He pushed his mop of curly hair out of his eyes."
verb
1
To clean a surface with a mop, or to wipe something up.
"He mopped the kitchen floor after dinner."
"She mopped her brow with a handkerchief in the heat."
How to use mop
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe floor-cleaning tool (or the action of using it), or informally, a messy head of hair.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
mop the floor
a mop of hair
mop up
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Word forms
- Plural
- mops
- Third person singular
- mops
- Past tense
- mopped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She grabbed a _____ to clean up the spilled juice.
Etymology
From Middle English mappe, probably ultimately from Latin mappa, "napkin, cloth" — the same root as "map" and "napkin."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “mop” mean?
The word “mop” means a cleaning tool with a long handle and a bundle of absorbent strands, used for washing floors. In plain terms, the floor-cleaning tool (or the action of using it), or informally, a messy head of hair.
How do you pronounce “mop”?
“Mop” is pronounced mop (/mɑp/ in IPA).
How do you use “mop” in a sentence?
Here is “mop” used in a sentence: “She grabbed a mop to clean up the spilled juice.”
What part of speech is “mop”?
Depending on how it is used, “mop” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “mop” come from?
The word “mop” comes from Latin. From Middle English mappe, probably ultimately from Latin mappa, "napkin, cloth" — the same root as "map" and "napkin.".
Is “mop” a common word?
“Mop” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mop” have?
“Mop” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a cleaning tool with a long handle and a bundle of absorbent strands, used for washing floors.
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