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

The Narwal’s spinning triangular mop pads do an excellent job of cleaning hard surfaces while offering some impressive smarts. —Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 12 Aug. 2024

For comparison, the Roomba Combo j9+ applies downward pressure on the mop and moves in a back-and-forth motion, the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni uses two spinning mop pads, and the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra uses a vibrating pad. —PCMAG, 8 Aug. 2024

Verb

The checklist for cleaning the kitchen was probably just washing dirty dishes, wiping down countertops, and mopping the floors. —Elizabeth Brownfield, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2024

The Roomba Combo 10 Max is a new robot vacuum and mop from iRobot that can wash its mop, empty its bin, and refill its mopping tank — meaning less manual labor on your part. —Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 23 July 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