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

Eufy Robot Vacuum and Mop Deal The Eufy Omni C20 vacuum and mop offers a hands-free clean with an Omni Station that automatically empties dust, plus washes and dries its own mop pads. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 15 July 2026

Health inspectors observed one small roach-like insect crawling from the mop sink to under the nearby prep table. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026

Verb

Volunteers also painted the walls, mopped the floors, and cleaned the inside of the building. — Raymond Strickland, CBS News, 12 July 2026

Its roller has 24 water ports that spin at 270 rpm, or nine times per second, to mop your floors up. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026

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

Rhymes for mop

• bop
• chop
• cop
• crop
• drop
• flop
• fop
• hop
• knop
• lop
• op
• plop

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