moss
mos
Moss (noun) means a small, soft green plant without flowers that grows in damp places on ground, rocks or trees. Example: “Soft green moss grew between the paving stones near the shady garden gate.”
noun
1
A small, soft green plant without flowers that grows in damp places on ground, rocks or trees.
"Soft green moss grew between the paving stones near the shady garden gate."
"Moss covered the north side of every tree in the forest."
"A thick carpet of moss grew over the old stone wall."
verb
1
To become covered in moss over time.
"If the roof stays damp, the wooden steps will moss over before long."
"The old stone bench had mossed and was almost invisible beneath the trees."
"The abandoned cottage had mossed over completely within a decade."
How to use moss
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe soft green growth found on damp surfaces like rocks, tree bark, or old walls.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
covered in moss
moss-covered
grow moss
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Word forms
- Plural
- mosses
- Third person singular
- mosses
- Past tense
- mossed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Soft green _____ grew between the paving stones near the shady garden gate.
Etymology
From Old English mos, "bog, marsh, moss", tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root shared with the Dutch and German words for moss — the plant and the "boggy ground" sense come from the same origin.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for moss
See all rhymes for moss →Frequently asked questions
What does “moss” mean?
The word “moss” means a small, soft green plant without flowers that grows in damp places on ground, rocks or trees. In plain terms, the soft green growth found on damp surfaces like rocks, tree bark, or old walls.
How do you pronounce “moss”?
“Moss” is pronounced mos (/mɔs/ in IPA).
How do you use “moss” in a sentence?
Here is “moss” used in a sentence: “Moss covered the north side of every tree in the forest.”
What part of speech is “moss”?
Depending on how it is used, “moss” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “moss” come from?
The word “moss” comes from Old English. From Old English mos, "bog, marsh, moss", tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root shared with the Dutch and German words for moss — the plant and the "boggy ground" sense come from the same origin.
Is “moss” a common word?
“Moss” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “moss” have?
“Moss” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, soft green plant without flowers that grows in damp places on ground, rocks or trees.
What is the difference between moss and lichen?
Moss is a small, soft, green, non-flowering plant that grows in damp places, while lichen is a composite organism formed from fungi and algae living together. They often grow side by side, but moss is a true plant and lichen is not.
What is the difference between moss and algae?
Moss is a small land plant with tiny stems and leaves that grows on ground, rocks, or trees in damp places, while algae are simpler organisms that lack true stems and leaves and usually grow in or near water. Moss grows on surfaces on land, whereas algae are typically aquatic.
Is 'moss' countable or uncountable?
'Moss' is usually uncountable, as in 'the rock was covered in moss.' The plural 'mosses' is used mainly in scientific contexts to refer to different species or types.
