mud

1 of 2

noun

ˈməd 

1

: a slimy sticky mixture of solid material with a liquid and especially water

especially : soft wet earth

2

: abusive and malicious remarks or charges

political campaigners slinging mud at each other

3

: anathema sense 1a

—usually used in the phrase one's name is mud

4

: a mixture of water, clay, and chemicals used in oil-well drilling and having various functions (such as lubrication and cooling of the bit and flushing of rock particles to the surface)

mud

2 of 2

verb

mudded; mudding

transitive verb

1

: to make muddy or turbid

2

: to treat or plaster with mud

Synonyms

Noun

• guck
• gook
• mire
• muck
• ooze
• slime
• slop
• sludge
• slush

Examples of mud in a Sentence

Noun

He tracked mud into the house.

The car was stuck in the mud.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

From clothing to fingernails, everything is soot and mud and ash and blood. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Split open at the seam and tender female feet urged in to keep the damp and mud at bay; slippers of a sort. —Max Ufberg, hazlitt.net, 10 Jan. 2025

Verb

To start, use a stiff brush or scraper to remove as much dirt and mud off your tools as possible. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2024

In the past month alone, over 500 shoppers have added the robot vacuum to their carts — just in time for the season of trekking unwanted dirt, grass, and mud inside. —Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 25 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English mudde, probably from Middle Low German

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mud

• as clear as mud
• drag someone's name through the mud
• drag through the mire/mud
• drilling mud
• mud dauber
• mud flap
• mud puppy
• mud season
• mud turtle
• sling/throw mud
• someone's name is mud
• stick-in-the-mud

Kids Definition

mud

noun

ˈməd

: soft wet earth