mud

1 of 2

noun

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The Dolphins offense was stuck in the mud the entire game and the third-down difficulties were one example of the struggles. Steve Svekis, Sun Sentinel, 29 Nov. 2024 However, rescue teams face significant challenges, as many roads remain blocked by mud, and rain continues to fall, slowing down the recovery process. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024
Verb
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 Integrated gaiters give above-ankle protection to keep slushy snow and mud out while the outer Gore-tex fabric makes the shoe waterproof and windproof, yet breathable. Laura Holt, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023 See all Example Sentences for mud 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of mud was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near mud

Cite this Entry

“Mud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mud. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

mud

noun
ˈməd
: soft wet earth

More from Merriam-Webster on mud

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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