mousse

1 of 2

noun

ˈmüs 

1

: a light spongy food usually containing cream or gelatin

2

: a molded chilled dessert made with sweetened and flavored whipped cream or egg whites and gelatin

chocolate mousse

3

: a foamy preparation used in styling hair

mousse

2 of 2

verb

moussed; moussing

transitive verb

: to style (hair) with mousse

Examples of mousse in a Sentence

Noun

a jar of styling mousse

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

To finish the meal, don’t skip out on the Claridge’s chocolate, a combination of chocolate mousse, brownie, cocoa nib, caramel and hot chocolate sauce. —Rachel Dube, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Different types of mousse will provide different levels of holds and definitions. —Natasha Marsh, Allure, 7 Apr. 2025

The dessert buffet offers 50 desserts, from elaborate preparations like Floating Island with custard, meringue, and a spun sugar garnish, to comforting grandma style desserts like chocolate mousse and rice pudding. —Michelle Greenwald, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

Delight in creations such as white chocolate cherry blossom mousse and passion fruit cremeux. —Taryn White, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, literally, froth, moss, from Old French mosse, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German mos moss — more at moss

First Known Use

Noun

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1984, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mousse

• coos
• cruce
• deuce
• douce
• duce
• goose
• hoose
• juice
• loose
• noose
• nous
• sluice

Kids Definition

mousse

1 of 2 noun

ˈmüs 

1

: a light whipped or molded food

especially : a cold dessert of sweetened and flavored whipped cream or egg whites and gelatin

2

: a foamy preparation used in styling hair

mousse

2 of 2 verb

moussed; moussing

: to style (hair) with mousse