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

Its base station washes and dries the mops with hot water and hot air, respectively. —PC Magazine, 19 June 2025

In the pursuit of an aesthetic chore routine, ditch the unsightly plastic brooms, mops, shovels, and spades in favor of sturdy wooden and metal pieces, suggests Jacqueline Goncalves, founder and principal designer of Moksa Studio. —Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2025

Verb

Your Floors Make an effort to vacuum and mop the floors in your home every Saturday, Evans advises. —Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 24 May 2025

Some members mopped their brows with colorful kitchen rags brought from home. —Alex Vadukul, New York Times, 21 May 2025

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