mop

1 of 2

noun

ˈmäp 

1

: an implement made of absorbent material fastened to a handle and used especially for cleaning floors

2

: something that resembles a mop

especially : a thick mass of hair

mop

2 of 2

verb

mopped; mopping

transitive verb

1

: to use a mop on

specifically : to clean or clear away by mopping

mop the floors

—often used with up

mop up the spillage

2

: to wipe as if with a mop

mopped his brow with a handkerchief

intransitive verb

: to clean a surface (such as a floor) with a mop

mopper noun

Examples of mop in a Sentence

Verb

He mopped the sweat from his brow.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Now available for 40% off ahead of Black Friday, this robovac can clean and mop your floors, while the station will suck out all the collected dirt, wash the mops, dry them out, and refill the water tank, delivering a hands-free experience. —Gabriela Vatu, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024

Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, upgrade your mop to the popular O-Cedar ProMist Max Spray Mop that has 31,600 perfect ratings and nearly 4,000 five-star reviews. —Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Oct. 2024

Verb

Rather than pulling out the bulky vacuum cleaner and following it up with the back-breaking chore that is mopping, let this Onson Robot Vacuum Cleaner do the heavy lifting for you. —Maggie Horton, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024

The elevation also allows for easy floor cleaning with a broom, vacuum, or mop without having to move the bed. —Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 1 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English mappe

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1709, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing mop

• dry mop
• dust mop
• mop up

Kids Definition

mop

1 of 2 noun

ˈmäp 

1

: a tool for cleaning made of a bundle of cloth or yarn or a sponge fastened to a handle

2

: something resembling a mop

a tangled mop of hair

mop

2 of 2 verb

mopped; mopping

: to wipe or clean with or as if with a mop

mop the floor

mopped my brow with a handkerchief